Life, 1886-04-29 · page 3 of 16
Life — April 29, 1886 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Lope of Ye Ancient Egge" - Analysis The top illustration is a decorative poem about Easter eggs and their consumption. The ornate medieval-style lettering and illustration suggest mock-archaic language, a common satirical device in *Life* magazine. Below, the "Telephonic" section is a humorous dialogue between someone at "Central" (a telephone operator) and Hugh Conway Munchausen of a publishing house. The joke plays on the name "Munchausen"—famous for tall tales—as the publisher discusses trying to sell an unfinished manuscript for two cents, attempting to find someone to complete it. The satire mocks both publishing industry desperation and the absurdity of the situation itself, treating the ridiculous business proposal as mundane telephone conversation fodder.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[S a) st A ES) 241 joung Digoree Arte Easter be— ‘A Softe boiled egge was eatinge, When from pe pothe ‘A wee fowle spoke * While be pe sbeile was beatinge. Chen Digoree Sfesoong did flee Hoe Fowle an Caster greetinge, “Jn sooth,” quotbe be, “Be Groceree— Chat solbe that egge was cheatinge.” TELEPHONIC. 66 ELLO, hello, Central! Hello, Central!" “Hello! What is it?” “Ts that Central?” “Yes. What is it?” “Give Hugh Conway Munchausen’s Publishing House.” “ Allright; you 've got it.” “Hello, Munchausen, is that you?” “Yes, who is it?” “ Hugh Conway.” “Why you are dead. What do you mean by calling us up?” “Never mind whether I am dead or not. I guess I am no deader than George Sands, and they are finding a lot of her MS. in Boston. Just listen a moment. This thrumming on harps is played out here, and the business is bad. It just occurred to me that I left an unfinished MS. in an upper bureau drawer in my old homestead, that had been refused by a dozen publishers—before I struck the “Called Back” lay—and I ‘d like to sell it to you cheap if you can get some one to finish it,” “What 's the name of it?” “ A Night of Labor. A capital story.” “ How much of it is finished ?” “Two lines; but you can fill it in easily, and I will sell it to you for two cents. Money is scarce here, and I want to buy a daily paper and post up St. Peter, who will give me a house in a better location if I give him information about New York Aldermen; besides, we are thinking of building a cable road here for the benefit of angels who can’t fly very well. Anyway, get a good man to finish the work, and I'll give you the full use of my name.” “All right; we accept, and have put your two cents in the pocket of our printer's devil, who died yesterday. See if you can’t remember some other MS. Good-bye.” “Good-bye.” C. Stetson. HE re-appointment of Mrs. Thompson to be post- mistress at Louisville evinces the growing disposition of the President to make himself solid with the ladies. The President makes wonderful progress in the science of govern- ment. s comicbooks.com