Life, 1887-04-21 · page 11 of 16
Life — April 21, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page contains three satirical sections: **"SCRAPS"** — Brief editorial jokes about literary economics (editors profiting from rejected manuscripts) and a pun about electric streetcars needing lightning rods as "good conductors." **"POLLICE VERSO"** — A cartoon captioned "Where the Public and Governor Hill Differ," depicting what appears to be a gladiatorial execution scene. The image likely satirizes a contemporary disagreement between New York Governor David B. Hill and public opinion on some matter (possibly capital punishment or a specific legal case), using the Roman "thumbs down" reference to suggest Hill's unpopular stance. **The Shakespeare Letter** — A humorous mock-letter from "Shakespeare" praising a performance of *The Taming of the Shrew*, written in pseudo-Elizabethan dialect. It appears to reference contemporary actors (Curtis, Gilbert, Drew, Skinner, Lewis) and includes a PS about Bacon claiming authorship—a running literary joke about the Bacon-Shakespeare authorship controversy. The final poem credits an artist for illustrating work while admitting the artist's contribution deserves acknowledgment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SCRAPS. 66] TELL you, it’s all nonsense,” said the editor, after selling six sacks of declined | manuscripts to the junk dealer, and sorting over eleven dollars’ worth of | unused postage stamps— | “it’s all nonsense to con- | tend that there are no profits in literature.” * # @ OME prying brute of a newspaper man broke into the privacy of James Russell Lowell's society, a few days ago, and absconded with the news that the ex-Minister will summer abroad. a) * HEN street-cars are run by elec- tricity probably lightning- rods will be introduced, for they invariably prove good conductors. POLLICE VERSO. Where THe Pustic AND Governor HILL DIFFER. | 1 alwayes thought that Curtis was a man, but now that | Madame Gilbert takes his lines, I'm gladde his sex is changed. And Drewe! Ah, me! why had we not this buoyant. | gladsome youth in olden tyme, with Skinner for ye Floren- tine, and roaryng Lewis, that our sides shulde ache for laughing ! Ah, Sir Dalye! would that we two had walked to- getherre in ye dayes of good Queen Bess. How we had made thyngs humme! Ye starres! what wealth, what EMPYREAN DEPTHS, | honours had been ours had not the centuries come between Ye 14th daye of Aprille, us, and what greater immortality had been mine when shared (Newe Style), 1887. with you! My DEARE FRENDE DALYE: I give you joy, deare frende—ay, benefactor; and in ye Inne company with my goode frende Baconne—who you _ language of ye market place, I pray you “ Keepe it uppe!” maye rememberre as ye author of my playes—I occupied on Thine ever, with affecsyon and gratitude, yester e'ena front seat atte the One Hundredth performance WM. SHAKESPEARE. of “Ye Taming of ye Shrew” in youre most charmyng . . playhouse. 1 wolde we had so coole a place to sitte in for P.S.—Baconne, who never yet did care for ye “ Taming alle tyme. of ye Shrew,” nowe claimes its authorshippe. Egad, I never knew I wrote so well, and Baconne, e’en that sour, crusty philosopher, did clappe his crumblyng fin- gerres till ye duste did fly from out them whenne ye cur- taine fell upon act ye first. Inne act ye seconde ye scenes did so affect me that in ye AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. TO THE ARTIST WHO ILLUSTRATED A POEM. KNOW what they will say to you: They'll say that you have caught spirit I didde yelle for joy, and Baconne, too, did rolle his eyes as if ye Deville didde possesse him, and cryinge all ye time “ Ye gods, whatte chayres !" The temper of ye Rehanne, deare frende, did make me gladde, and when ye Dreher walked uponne ye stage, Baconne did ask that I shulde pinche hym, lest it be a dream. | With wonderful fidelity The spirit of my thought. Though mortifying, ‘tis your due That I confess just here, You drew the picture first, and then I caught at the idea. AW. R. comicbooks.com