Life — March 17, 1887 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# St. Patrick's Day Procession This satirical cartoon depicts a St. Patrick's Day parade as a series of wagons drawn by oxen, each representing different aspects of city governance and public life. The procession includes: - **Chief Marshal and Staff** (top) - the parade leadership on horseback - **"Work"** - laborers and construction - **"The Entering Wedge"** - what appears to be a saloon or tavern - **"Members of City Government and Contractor"** - officials and business interests - **"Glorious Result"** - tax payers depicted as burdened The satire suggests that St. Patrick's Day celebrations mask corruption and mismanagement, with city officials and contractors enriching themselves while ordinary taxpayers bear the costs. It's a critique of urban political corruption and cronyism embedded within ethnic community celebration.