Life, 1885-09-03 · page 6 of 16
Life — September 3, 1885 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Our Little Culture Society at Pignapoke" This satirical piece mocks pretentious small-town social climbers. The sketch shows a woman (Lucretia) fainting dramatically during a village procession, while townsfolk gather around in exaggerated concern. The text reveals the absurdity: Lucretia orchestrated an elaborate "culture society" exhibition featuring jealousy and social one-upmanship. She manipulated her brother into parading seven striped dresses through town to demonstrate the society's influence and superiority to local merchants (like the butcher). The procession includes a figure labeled "Our President"—apparently a stuffed effigy—suggesting the organization's pretension and artificiality. The satire targets rural communities' attempts at cultural sophistication through ostentatious display rather than genuine refinement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Q ‘3 “SHE GAVE A LOUD SHRIEK AND SWOONED AWAY.” OUR LITTLE CULTURE SOCIETY AT PIGNAPOKE. PIGNAPOKE, C. H. Editor Lire: SiR— EFFERSON street was, last week, the scene of a dis- graceful exhibition of jealousy and prgue. For two weeks the magnificent hospitality of Lucretia had, with many sly allusions to our little A2s¢réonzcs, which I could well afford to take in good part, formed the sole topic of con- versation at the post office. Abraham Jolly was furious at the lofty height to which 1, as president of our little society, had soared. I was surprised one morning to see him enter my store, and with an unpleasant smile ask for percale in a very wide stripe. He said his sister wanted it for a dress. I was pleased at this evidence of the influence of our club and gave him full yards for the sake of the cause. In a few moments after he left a friend of his, who had seven sisters, came in and bought seven dresses in large spots, stripes and checks. This was delightful; during the day I sold no less than tweaty-five dresses, and all to our most open enemies. This was on Tuesday. On Saturday, at noon, a strange commotion seemed to agitate the village. The butcher across the street would start up at the least sound, throw down his cleaver, and rush to the door. Mr. Wibbil was affected likewise, and the apothecary’s boy brought his pestal and mortar out on the front door step and looked anxiously around. I felt that something awful was about to happen. The town was full of people, as is usual on Saturday, and the strange, expectant hush soon extended to them all. At half-past twelve Lucretia, followed by several of our society came in, very much ex- cited. She reported that Uncle Obadiah had missed Jonah that morning, and while searching for him had found the old cov- ered bridge west of the village barricaded. He was certain he had heard Jonah’s voice and Abe Jolly’s well-known laugh in the bridge, but he was too badly frightened to go very near, “ What does it all mean?" gasped Lucretia, and just then the sound of a bass drum was heard, and a procession approached that was hailed by the unthinking with unseemly mirth. There was Jonah at the head of it, and upon his back a figure stuffed with straw, surmounted by a cabbage head; upon its breast a placard read, | comicbooks.com