Life, 1883-05-31 · page 12 of 16
Life — May 31, 1883 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 262 ## "Going for the Doctor" (Top Cartoon) The sketch depicts a man chasing a dog with a cane or stick while another figure (likely a doctor, given the title) observes. This is a humorous visual gag—the man appears to be pursuing the dog to "go for the doctor" literally, rather than sending someone to fetch medical help. It's visual wordplay on the idiom. ## "The Wail of a Rejected Contributor" (Left Column) A satirical poem by J.K. Bangs mocking the experience of submitting work to *Life* magazine. A hopeful writer brings his "pojum" (poem), expecting quick acceptance, payment, and success. Instead, the editor smiles sweetly, reads it, but ultimately rejects it with a form letter. The repeated refrain "Said I to myself, said I" emphasizes the contributor's deflating internal dialogue as hopes crumble. ## "Dollars or Damnation" (Right Column) This satirizes a lawsuit where a Catholic priest sued for $12,000, claiming he performed masses for another deceased priest's soul. *Life* ridicules the absurdity: priests supposedly go directly to heaven, so why charge for purgatory services? The piece attacks the commercialization of Catholic spiritual practices.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GOING FOR THE DOCTOR. THE WAIL OF A REJECTED CONTRIBUTOR. WHEN Lcame to your office with pojum in hand (Said I to myself, said 1), “Tl knock sky high all the wits in the land.” (Said I to myself, said 1): “Till get this in Lire, My fortune is made.” I pictured myself in glory arrayed. “T'll go and get married, and give up the trade” (Said I to myself, said I). You smiled very sweetly, my pojum you took. (Said I to myself, said 1): “ He'll give me a check, I can tell by his look” (Said I to myself, said 1), I felt much encouraged, you read it all through, You roared and you laughed, you thought it quite too. “ He'll make it a * tenner,’ as I took my adiew (Said I to myself, said 1). I waited a day, I waited a week)! (Said I to myself, said 1): “To keep me so long that man has a cheek” (Said I to myself, said 1). “Tl write him, and tell him to send me my check, That I'm poverty stricken, a miserable wreck, And if he don’t send it, I'll jump on his neck !” (Said I to myself, said I.) At length a note came. ‘* Here's richness at last" (Said 1 to myself, said I). Ttore up the flapper. “Great Scott, hold me fast !" (Said I to myself, said L.) “Your pojum is herewith returned unto you, I'm sorry, my friend, I'm afraid it won't do.” “Well, that és check from Checkville, Missou" (Said I to myself, said 1). J. K. Bancs. DOLLARS OR DAMNATION. “ cheerfully endorse the subjoined, from the San Francisco Argonaut of May sth: MONEY OR Masses. —Reverend Robert J, Maguire,for many years Pas- tor of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Court Street, Brooklyn, died in 1881, leaving an estate variously estimated at from twenty-five thousand dollars to twice that amou: The Reverend Father Curran, of St. Andrew’s Church, this city, since deceased, was named as execu- tor under the will. Father Curran died intestate, and the estate went into the hands of the public administrator. Provision was made, it is said, by Father Maguire for the celebration of masses for the repose of his 3oul. Reverend Philip Kenny, who was assistant pastor at St. Paul's, performed the ceremonies, saying the masses desired. Father Kenny has now begun suit to recover twelve thousand dollars against the estate of his deceased pastor for the services rendered. The action is brought before the Supreme Court, and has been referred to coun- sellor William RB. Davenport, who is taking testimony in the matter. Messrs. P. J. O'Hanlon and ex-Judge Morris appear for the plaintiff, who is assistant pastor of the Church of the Nativity, in Madison street, Brooklyn, and Charles J. Otis represents the legal interest of George B. Abbot, the public administrator.—New York Herald. This bringing of a suit against one priest, for compensation for praying another out of purgatory, beats us alto- gether. In the first place, we thought all priests went directly to the bosom of Abraham, and that, when they died in sanctity, they skipped the domain which we infidels call ‘‘ Fiddler's Green,” Bat which, in the more sedate languaye of the church, is called’ “ Purgatory.” We thought these Roman Christians 'so loved one another that when a priest, by some unlucky accident, like that which lately occurred in Brooklyn, slipped his foot and brought up on the debatable ground, they would pray him out of his dilemma in the half-way house on the down grade. But for one priest to demand of another twelve thousand dollars for lift- ing him up from purgatorial pains, and placing him with harp and stool upon the golden pave, is a thing never dreamed of in our philosophy. We do not understand how Father Kenny is to maintain his action, First, wetake it, his lawyers must prove the following facts—viz., that there is a purgatory; that Father Maguire had a soul while living ; that his soul survives him dead, and that it has gone to purgatory. The court will doubtless take judicial cognizance of the character of the place called pur- gatory, and admit that it is a devilishly uncomfortable position for a priest to be putit. The plaintiff will then prove that he said the masses, and said them upon an empty stomach, and in all re- spects complied with the requirements of the church. He must, we think, prove that his prayers have been effective, in order comicbooks.com