Life, 1887-01-27 · page 7 of 16
Life — January 27, 1887 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers The main cartoon satirizes military preparedness. A man practices fishing with a net while well-dressed officials observe—the caption "IN TIME OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR" suggests this is an allegory for building military strength during peacetime. The figure on the left appears to be practicing "angle practice against the canvas" (per the dialogue), though the net-fishing imagery likely represents ineffective or misguided preparation methods. The cartoon mocks either inadequate military readiness or absurd preparatory tactics. Below is a humorous autobiographical piece by a Texas journalist describing his career disappointments—repeatedly asked to drink and retract statements, facing financial ruin despite professional efforts. The "lacrimae rerum" (Latin for "tears of things") frames his failed ambitions ironically against his modest earnings list.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
49 aac IN TIME OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR. Cholly: SHE ISN'T A VERY LIVELY PLAYER, AWTHAW, LACRIMZ RERUM. AWAITED his coming a year, And I thought, ‘‘ When he comes, he’ll propose.” I practiced his favorite songs, I brought out my prettiest clothes— A love of a gown, made by Worth, Tender blue, with a touch of pale rose ; For hours I polished my’ nails ; I read up both poems and prose, But alas! when the fatal day came, I'd a boil on the end of my nose! £.S. N. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SUCCESSFUL JOURNALIST. NE of the most entertaining bits of autobiography we have ever read ig the following account of his professional life, with its disappointments and rewards, by a Texas editor : Been asked to drink . + 14,362 Drank. . Lee e & PAR B ame a a hypegee Requestedtoretract | 2) 1). 2 1 lt 416 BUT I'M GETTING SOME SPLENDID ANGLE PRACTICE AGAINST THE CANVAS, Y'KNOW. | Did Retract . Invited to parties and receptions by parties fishing | ‘for ruts Took the hint Didn't take the hint . Threatened to be whipped - Been whipped | Whipped the other fellow Didn't come to time Been promised w! Been after them Been asked what's the news Told * Didn't know - Lied about it . Been to church . ¢ ete ER we OR Re el ee Changed polities © 1 1 2) 2 ge Expect to change still. |. SUR SEW SRY BO Gave to charity. . PF fe) 2 2 ame ks «S85 Gave for terrier dog + $25.00 Cash on hand $1.00 gin, etc. if he would go after them We doubt if the editor of any one of our New York dailies could compress so much entertaining reminiscence into so little space. We also question whether in the whole rank and file of New York news- paperdom there will be found a thousandth part of the frankness displayed by this Texan brother in his graphic portrayal of those personal characteristics which go to make up the successful journalist of to-day. comicbooks.com