Life, 1886-05-20 · page 5 of 16
Life — May 20, 1886 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page contains three separate satirical pieces: 1. **"Force of Habit"** (top): A brief dialogue mocking a hotel proprietor who excuses an insulting waiter by claiming he "once was a New York Alderman"—suggesting corrupt or rude behavior was typical of that political position. 2. **"Keeping Down Unnecessary Expenses"** (top right): A butcher and boycotter discuss costs of a labor boycott, with the boycotter paying $8.40 for beer and car fare—the humor lies in protesting "unnecessary expenses" while spending lavishly. 3. **"Squire Chillinghart Makes a Visit"** (main illustration): A gentleman visitor confronts what appears to be a shopkeeper about alleged "high jinking" and disorderly conduct in the district. The satire targets either working-class behavior or labor activism, depending on the historical context of "Squire Chillinghart." All three pieces use humor to critique social pretension, labor disputes, or class conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE- FORCE OF HABIT. UEST (irascibly): I am obliged to make a complaint t against the waiter who attended me at dinner, He became insolent when I wouldn't tip him at every course. Hotel Proprietor (obsequiously) : I must request you to excuse him, sir; he has seen better days, and his insolence is unintentional. He once was a New York Alderman. 285 KEEPING DOWN UNNECESSARY EXPENSES. OYCOTTER (to butcher): As you have concluded to employ none but union men, Mr. Smith, we will order the boycott off at once. But you will have to pay the ex- penses of the boycott, of course. Butcher: I suppose so. How much will they be ? Boycotter : Forty cents for car fare and eight dollars for beer. Eight forty, please ? SQUIRE CHILLINGHART MAKES A VISIT. FROM PIGNAPOKE. Pronapoke, C. H. Eprtor Lire: achilly night the little room at the back of my store in Pigna- poke is quite a cozy place. our society adorn its walls, I wasa little dubious about hanging up a decorated scrubbing board until Lucretia showed me a print of one in the catalogue of a large New York dry-goods house. To Lucretia 1 am indebted for a rolling-pin and potato-masher, studded with brass hooks, to hang my neckties and knicknacks on. Over the mantel-piece the candle light flashes on a group of armor. It is composed entirely of material I found about the place, but the general effect is very striking. As I sat one night before the blazing wood fire thinking how much brighter life seemed when surrounded by these little evidences of Many little gifts from members of | taste, I was suddenly aroused from my reverie by a heavy rapping at the door, followed almost at once by the entrance of Squire Chilling- hart. To my greeting and offer of a chair he made no response, but plac- ing his hat upon the mantel turned slowly and glaaced scornfully around at my walls, until bis gaze fastened itself on my humble per- son. I saw that his errand was not one of peace, so with all the coolness I could muster 1 lit a cigarette, sat down upon the lounge, and left him standing in the middle of the floor. There was a period of ominous silence and then the squire brought down his cane upon the floor. “Young man,” said he, “I understand you are the ringleader in this ’ere Cultur’ Society that my Lucrecie's into. An’ as such I hold you responsible for all the ’tarnal high jinkin’ that’s been goin’ on in this district of late. comicbooks.com