Life, 1883-09-06 · page 5 of 16
Life — September 6, 1883 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 111 This page contains a humorous narrative sketch titled "Stranger Than Fiction" depicting a sailor recounting an incident to young boys. The skipper describes being struck by lightning while aboard ship and his unconventional response—hauling off his boots to pour the lightning out on deck. Below this is a poem celebrating pig hunting and English country sports, likely satirizing upper-class sporting traditions. References to "Cincinnati's busy mart" and "Anglomaniacs" suggest the poem mocks American attempts to adopt English hunting customs. The overall content appears to be light social satire about class pretensions and sporting culture rather than serious political commentary. The exaggerated sailor's tale and the somewhat absurd pig-hunting poem represent typical 1880s Life magazine humor—genteel mockery of contemporary American society's affectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
STRANGER THAN FICTION. Chorus of excited boys: THEN THE LIGHTNING STRUCK YOU. Skipper, indifferently: Ow, YES—I WAS LEANIN' AGIN THE MAINMAST WHEN IT STRUCK IT, Excited boys: Dip N'T IT KILL You? Skipper, more indifferently ; WAL, NO; 1T ALL RAN DOWN MY BACK. Exated boys: AND WHAT DID YOU DO THEN ? Skipper, most indifferently : 1 HAD TO HAUL OFF MY BOOTS AND POUR THE LIGHTNING OUT ON THE DECK. “ THE hounds ran all over the compass for an hour, and then the kill took place at Isaac Sherman's farm, A couple of pigs near by heard the hounds, and rushing to join the latter made a bee line for them to the poor little fox.” Newport Letter. Boston, Saturday Evening Gazette, Aug. 18th, 1883. Ho! Harkaway! and Tally-ho ! Wind loud the mellow horn ! To dear old England fondly show The triumphs of this morn ! Huzza! no more need we import The long-eared hounds. And why ? To grace our vulpicidal sport, We'll seek the humble sty. And Cincinnati's busy mart Shall furnish forth the chase, ‘To cheer the Anglomaniac heart And Newport's hunting grace. Forsake we, too, the herring red ! Nor bag with anise fill! But on the sward we ‘Il gaily spread The rich and savory swill. As loud and fiercer grows the hunt, How will each soul rejoice, As in shrill squeak and deep-toned grunt ‘The maddened pack gives voice ! Newport's proud dames, and maidens trig, Shall on the porkers smile, And note the points of each good pig, And praise its splendid sh/e. And when the hunting season 's o’er, And southward flies the stork, Appear ! each gallant pig and boar, As bacon, ham, and pork ! They ’Il grace the hardy hunter's hall, At breakfast in the morn, While well fried sausages recall The merry grunt and horn ! Long live our noble English chase ! To Anglomaniacs dear ! Our pigs are of the purest race, No savage fox we'll fear. comicbooks.com