Life, 1887-09-08 · page 3 of 16
Life — September 8, 1887 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Natural Inference" Cartoon Analysis This cartoon satirizes perceptions of Irish immigrants and their supposed crude behavior. A well-dressed woman (labeled "She") asks Mr. Marks whether his parrot can talk. He responds that the parrot only "whistles and swears a little." The woman then makes a pointed inference: she assumes the parrot learned such language from Irish servants or laborers in the household. The joke relies on a common 19th-century American stereotype that Irish immigrants were uncouth, profane, and morally corrupting influences—particularly as domestic workers. By suggesting the parrot picked up vulgarities from them, the cartoon reinforces xenophobic assumptions about Irish people's supposed lack of refinement and propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A NATURAL INFERENCE. She: DOES YOUR PARROT TALK, MR. MARKS? Mr, Marks (not intellectual); NOT MUCH, EXCEPT WHAT I'VE TAUGHT HIM, She: ONLY WHISTLES AND SWEARS A LITTLR, I 5 BLOWING. HE newspaper talk about the Thistle and Volunteer is getting more and more vigorous as the contest draws nigh. The Boston Globe has the following : “An English admirer of the 7Ais¢/e, who has sailed in her on several occasions, writes to say that ‘she is as stanch as an Irish packet, as easy to handle as a lady's fan, and as light as her own thistle down.” “+ But what is the matter with the American Volunteer ?- She is as reliable as death and taxes; as pliable as a wad of putty, and as fleet as a streak of greased lightning. “* Moreover, the great Lick telescope might be focused on her for acoon's age and not a fly could be discovered about her premises.” If we can only get as much wind on the day of the race as there is in paragraphs of this sort, the two boats ought to beat all previous records. THREE DOLLARS WILL SEND A CHILD INTO THE COUNTRY FOR TWO WEEKS. E wish it distinctly understood that Lire is proud, Four weeks ago we informed our readers of the interesting fact contained in the caption above, and they hive responded most generously as the acknowledgments below and those that have preceded them will show. Two hundred and thirty children have been renewed in health and strength, and there is still a balance of one dollar left in the treasury to be devoted to reviving the spirits of some fortunate two PROSE. hundred and thirty-first infant who probably does not even dream of the delights in store for him or her. We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the following : $550.00 10.00 Previously Acknowledged JBM. An Art Student 3.00 A. H. Chadbourne 3.00 Bow os . 25,00 Anonymous . 25.00 ACB. 10.00 Ed. A., Jr. 15.00 Hope. 3.00 Two Little Boys . 3.00 Sellar Bullard 5 12.35 ABad Boy . Sag Fair at Luzerne gotten up by Elsie and Dorothy Bunker assisted by Willie Termille and Chapman Ropes : In Memoriam 28.00 3.00 $691.00 J.D. Minot is informe! that the contribution concerning which he asks amounts to $59.75 to date. In conclusion we beg to inform our readers that we are very much like Oliver Twist. We are asking for more. comicbooks.com