Life, 1887-06-23 · page 12 of 16
Life — June 23, 1887 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Page Analysis This page from *Life* contains several brief satirical pieces mocking contemporary American society: **"Solmondewhat Rude"** ridicules an drunk guest whose behavior disrupts a party—a commentary on poor etiquette among the bibulous classes. **"The Jury System"** jokes that jurors are "called" but "few are chosen" (biblical language), implying jury selection is arbitrary or flawed. **Chicago Anarchist** satirizes both anarchists and excessive propriety by claiming a radical faces social ostracism for *washing* his face—absurdist humor attacking both extremes. The illustrated cartoons show working-class life: a striker's wife refusing to cook because she won't work 24-hour days while her husband contributes nothing; and a "bunko steerer" (con artist) unable to remember an obviously fake name given by a stranger. The final item has *Life* boasting it competes better than *Harper's Magazine*'s "Editor's Drawer" column—self-promotional trade commentary between rival publications. Overall: sharp, quick social satire targeting drunks, poor civics, labor disputes, and con artists.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
354 SOLMONDEWHAT RUDE. . BIBULOUS person named Cholmon- | deley, Behaved all the evening so rolmondeley, That the maids and the main Stared again and again, And glared at the party quite glolmondeley. THE JURY SYSTEM. HAT was the text this morn- ing?” asked a stay-at-home husband of a church-going wife. H “Many are called, but few are chosen.” | “ “ What jury did he have reference to ?” } CHICAGO Anarchist is under the ban of social ostracism for wash- | ing his face three times in one month. This constitutes him a dude and settles | his fate. HERE is a destiny which shapes the side-door, rough Hewitt as he will. HAT was done to the Atlantic to make her go? Those who know will not tell, and her original rule-of-thumb builders seem nottoknow. Her improve- | ment makes a new element of excitement for the annual trials with Mr. Burgess’s New England fleet. T seems that there are some Indians left in Arizona, and that the war sea- son has come round again. But Geronimo is in Florida. Let us be thankful for a little. AFTER DINNER —A hungry tramp. TWO OF A KIND. Party in the foreground: Ow, Lor! I've GOT ’EM AGAIN, I ALM KNOW THEY'RE COMING ON WHEN I SEE DOUBLE. TWO SIDES TO IT. Striker (coming home at rr p. m.): BIDDY, PHWERE’S ME SUPPER? Wife: Ol'vE STHRUCK. OI CAN'T WORRK TWINTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY WHIN YER- SILF WON'T PUT IN TIN, HIS NAME UNKO STEERER (to stranger): Excuse me, sir, but is not this my old friend Mr. Ely, of Rome, N. Y.? STRANGER: No, sir. I am Mr. Eichlensteinbergerblumenthallichten- schwartzcoff, of Quoddyquohogmachiasmemfremagog, Maine. Bunko steerer excuses himself, but before he can reach his “pal” the stranger's name and address have escaped him. HE editor of London Punch confesses that his paper cannot make much headway in America in opposition to the “Editor's Drawer” of Harper's Magazine. ~* comicbooks.com