Life, 1885-02-05 · page 12 of 16
Life — February 5, 1885 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 82: Satirical Commentary This page contains several unrelated satirical pieces typical of 19th-century *Life* magazine: **"The Ambitious Terrapin"** is an Aesop's Fable parody mocking overconfidence. A turtle attempts to cross thin ice after seeing a fox succeed, but melts through and nearly drowns. The moral sardonically notes that natural forces don't consistently protect the foolish—a dig at those who naively imitate others' risky behavior. **The three vignettes at top** humorously depict a country person's first encounter with an elevated railway, attempting increasingly dangerous stunts (climbing the structure, standing on a moving train car). **Other brief satirical notes** target: Brooklyn clergy ("Angels"), a visiting British "Claimant" (likely a fraudulent heir seeking American lecture fees), corrupt accountants embezzling from New York firms, and the sluggish pace of government census reporting. **"Fame"** is a serious poem by H.A. Freeman about how true greatness transcends temporary recognition. The page reflects *Life's* signature blend of visual humor, fables, social commentary on urban life, and literary content.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE HAS NEVER SEEN AN ELE- VATED R. R. BEFORE. THE AMBITIOUS TER- RAPIN. LAND Terrapin, having seen | a Fox cross a river on thin ice, bravely determined to attempt the same thing ; but the ambitious quadruped marched very slowly, and the ice melted so rapidly under the rays of the sun, that it finally THINKS HE WILL TRY IT, THE TRAINS DO NOT SEEM INCLINED TO STOP FOR HIM BUT. FAME. ORDS may be found to fitly blazon forth The shining deeds of great and glorious men, | Or paint in glowing words the sterl- ing worth Of those who win renown with sword or pen. gave way and the daring Terrapin | got a terrible ducking. And men will read and wag their MoRAL :— This Fable teaches | that the mysterious power that tempers the carved lamb to the hungry circuit judge, does not al- ways temper the bent pin to the super-incumbent school teacher, nor the thin ice to the slow terrapin, nor the careering locomotive to the embattled bull. “A NIGGER in the woodpile,” is purely a figurative expression, as all the world knows ; but a Coon in the Treasury, just at this mo- ment, is not only an actual fact but a fortu- nate circumstance withal. ANGELS and ministers of Brooklyn defend us! It is now announced that the Claimant will shortly visit America—to lecture of course (all Britishers either act or lecture), and to trowser the Almighty dollar wherever found! ' Have these English cousins of ours really no bowels of com- passion? Will the line of cheap celebrities, like that of Ban- quo’s issue, stretch out until the crack of doom? Perhaps, after all, should the Asiatic Terror succeed in gaining a foot- hold upon our shores the coming season, it might prove in one particular a blessing in disguise. HE SOON GIVES IT UP, ano| FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HOW NEW YORKERS C. heads, and say The man is great, and worthy of his friends. then—the weather or the time o’ day Contents their listless thought—and so it And H. A. FREEMAN. AUTHORS, and especially newcomers in the literary world, would do well to avoid prefaces. For in prefaces authors are ac- customed to tell what their books are about, and the critics, knowing that much, never read the book. A CERTAIN New York firm's accounts have been so deliciously cooked by a miss- KE IT. | ing accountant (at present rusticating in = Canada), that while the examiner is engaged in going through them, he fancies himself dining at Del- monico’s. AN LI PROVIDENCE (and the Washington authorities) permitting, the United States Census Reports of 1880 may be looked for about A.D. 2004. comicbooks.com