Life, 1883-07-26 · page 7 of 16
Life — July 26, 1883 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 41 This page contains satirical commentary on class differences and social hierarchy, using "the Lamb" and "the Man" as character types representing the working and upper classes. **"A Call"** depicts a wealthy man summoning a subordinate to check on finances. The satire mocks how the rich assume their money is "lost" when it's simply been moved around—they expect servants to manage these details. **"A Privilege"** shows the man "putting a head" on the Lamb—literally striking him. The satire is that the Lamb considers even this violence a "privilege" because it means he's gotten ahead of his social superiors, suggesting the working class has such low expectations they're grateful for any acknowledgment. The text criticizes the strange language and social customs of "the street"—the world of business and social climbing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: in rhyme. This, however,.was when he was younger and more tender. Now he is confident that the wool cannot be pulled over his eyes. Ah, dear reader, what troubles are eyes from misplaced confidence ! But to return to our mutton in the bucket shop. ‘The Lamb has come to put his money where he thinks it will do the most good. The man he puts it with, thinks it will do the most good there, too. ‘This puts them on a friendly basis at once. The man puts out his hand, and says, “ Put it there!” It is his cordial way. You might think he would be a little put out, but he keeps cheerful, for he knows it will be a poorly cold day all round when he loses anything. He will ‘put himself when it comes to that. A “CALL.” HIS is a “call.” The Lamb has called to see how his money is getting along. It has got a- long way off—too far for him to catch the first glimpse of it. He may have second sight, but he must have been born with a caul for that. There is nocall for it here. The bucket master thinks he has borne with this call long enough, too, and he begins to be short with the Lamb, He explains that the long and short of it is, the money has been lost in a “corner,” and he says, “You might have corner darned sight further, and fared worse."” He shows how everything has been wiped out, but without finding any trace of it around the margins, Still the Lamb lingers near, a sneer lin- gering on his usually seven benign countenance. He hints that it isa “ put up job;” hints his discontent. He says, “ You makeall that all right, but I don’t.” But naught avails. Dear reader, we can do naught but bear the ails we ‘ave. Naughty thing, believe me. And out into the genial air of Spring Lamb goes forth boiling (so it ’scald). A “PRIVILEGE.” THs is what the Lamb considers a ‘‘ privilege.” It is one that he does not often enjoy, but it is sometimes given to him. In that case, he gives it to the man, and then Ae does not often enjoy it, either. This is called ‘‘ putting a head” on the man. You will observe that it all comes from his getting ahead of the Lamb on the “ put.” Let us leave the Lamb lamming the Man, and be thankful that we are not as other men are, or even as this man will be when the Lamb gets through with him. Such, dear reader, is the strange jargon of “the street.” Whostreet is next ? NEW BOOKS. M ILKY WAYS ; or, The Routes of the Stars : the Mail Contractor’s own guide and handbook: Joun D'Orsay. ANNALS of a Quiet Neighborhood. Jay Hus...u. Tue Etiquette of the Dinner Table, by an habitual diner-out. Benj. F. B....R. An Heaven-sent Stroke ; or, A Romance of New London Eel-grass. “Yate '83.” comicbooks.com