Life, 1883-06-28 · page 11 of 17
Life — June 28, 1883 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page satirizes the dangerous negligence of excursion boat operators in early 1900s New York. The main "Popular Science Catechism" dialogue mocks a pleasure boat that carries approximately 4,000 passengers despite legal capacity of only 2,000—with only about 1,000 life preservers available. The satire's targets: the ship's captain who violates safety laws with impunity; the anonymous "secret corporation" owners (sarcastically called the "Undertaker's Co-operative Union," implying passengers will die); and the legal system that provides no real accountability—there would be "no witnesses" if disaster struck, so the captain faces no consequences. The accompanying cartoon shows a man declining a train ticket to Chicago, joking he lacks spare change—social commentary on poverty. The final aphorisms mock class inequality and corruption. The page's core message: wealthy boat operators prioritize profit over passenger safety, relying on legal loopholes and anonymity to avoid responsibility for inevitable tragedies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“POPULAR SCIENCE CATECHISM. Lesson 1v.—TuHE Excursion Boat. HAT is this? A_ pleasure ex- cursion boat, sweet. 309 Why, where would the poor passengers be? Drowned. Oh! then all the passengers trust to the poor captain's good luck? Yes, they have staked their lives upon it. And this is “pleasure?” Quite a picnic, my love. Are there many such “ pleasure” boats running out of Why ts tt called * New York? a “pleasure” ex- curston boat? For the same reason that a the- atre in this city is called the “ Fifth Avenue " theatre, And why ts that? Because it is not in Fifth Avenue. Ok! But how does that apply to the boat? If you were on the boat you might see. There appear to be some people on this boat. There are a few. — How many? About 4,000, darling. Why! but is not that more than the boat is allowed to carry? Evidently not. But a paper in her cabin says she is only allowed 2,000 passengers. Yes, dear. Then the poor captain is disobeying the law. Somewhat. Will he be punished? Oh, no. But suppose there should be an accident? There would be trouble. For whom? For the people on board. But does not the poor captain know that not half his passengers can swim? He knows that not one fourth of them can, but he cannot help it. Are there no life preservers on board? Oh, yes. How many? About 1,000. But just think how awful it would be if the boat would blow up, sink, tip over or get run into. Yes. : Would not the poor captain catch blazes from the coroner's jury? No. Why? There would be no witnesses to show he was to blame. rs About 100, Who own them} That is a secret. But I will not tell. Are the men who own them philanthropists ? Every time. Who are they? They are a secret corporation. And its name? The “ Undertaker’s Co-operative Union.” DECLINED WITH THANKS. Impecunious Party: “THROUGH TO CHICAGO WITH- OUT CHANGE, EH?” WELL, I DON’T SEE AS THAT'S ANY INDUCEMENT FOR me, I AINT GOT ANY CHANGE here, Wat’S THE USE OF GOING SO FUR IF I DON’T GET NOTHING ? Comparisons are odious, hence fine ladies use super- latives. Haste makes waste, so runners are put on starvation diet. He that was born to be hanged will be put to the expense of bribing a jury. If the coat fits, put it on, but don’t let the police see you. comicbooks.com