Life, 1887-11-24 · page 5 of 20
Life — November 24, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 287 **"The Museum of Natural History"** section critiques Morris K. Jessup, who apparently demanded the museum open on Sundays for public viewing. The satire attacks his hypocrisy: he claims religious principle prevents him from visiting on the Sabbath, yet he wants others to work there on Sundays. The text questions whether his natural history collection—stuffed animals, fossils—deserves Sunday observance, sarcastically suggesting the specimens might be "corrupt" or "sacrificed to rum, tobacco and profanity." **"The Worm Turns"** describes a plumber's visit to a wealthy stockbroker's house. The lady of the house suspiciously demands he lock away silver and remove the lead man, fearing theft. The plumber's apprentice responds that honest people work there—satirizing wealthy households' reflexive distrust of working-class service providers. Both pieces mock class hypocrisy and self-righteousness.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. E see in the daily papers a notice to the effect that the musc::m of natural history is open to the public Wednesdays, ‘Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and all public holidays. This notice is signed Morris K. Jessup, President. As Mr. Morris K. Jessup has affixed his name and title so courageously, it would appear that a rather bold step had been taken—bold for this institution—and that Mr. Morris K. Jessup was going to stand by it. Now, Mr. Morris K. Jessup knows very well that if the working public are to see his museum they are to see it Sundays or most of them will not see it at all, But Mr. Morris K. Jessup is not one of those weak natures who allow their piety to be influenced by any foolish ideas of benevolence. Petitions signed by hundreds of citizens have been presented to him in vain. He lives, presumably, in the faith that every man excluded from his museum upon the Sabbath will spend that day in prayer and religious meditation. It is unpleasant to believe that Mr, Morris K. Jessup’s collection is of a quality unfit to be investi- gated upon the Sabbath. Can it be that his stuffed birds and animals are dissolute examples? that the minerals are indecent? that the fossils are corrupt, and the natural history specimens sacrilegious or given to rum, tobacco and profanity ? HE richest man in Vermont is said to be Colonel Estey, of Brattleborough, who is worth $3,500,000, all made in trade. Morac: Don't trade with a Vermont man. “TALK ABOUT ACCIDENTS FROM NEGLIGENCE, WHY IT WAS A RAILROAD MAN'S NEGLIGENCE THAT SAVED MY LIFE ONCE!* “How was THAT?” “Wry, STOVE JUST BEFORE OUR TRAIN WAS WRECKED.” THE FELLOW LET THE FIRE GO OUT IN THE CaR- Johnny (/rom Boston) ; SISTER, NEVER PURCHASE FRUIT FROM THAT MAN, Sister (with alacrity): No, JouNNY, | NEVER WILL. BUT wHy? Johnny: BECAUSE HE EXPECTORATES ON HIS APPLES TO MAKE THEM LUMINOUS, THE WORM TURNS. IFE has had its eye on the plumber for several years, momentarily expecting that he would turn upon his persecutors, At last it has come, and while we have little sympathy for that particular plumber who holds a mortgage on our house, we rejoice for his innocent brethren that the return blow is so effective, According to an exchange, a plumber was sent to the house of a wealthy stockbroker to execute some repairs. He was taken by the butler into the dining-room, and was beginning his work when the lady of the house entered. “John,” said she, with a suspicious glance toward the plumber, “remove the silver from the sideboard and lock it up at once.” But the man of lead was in nu wise discon- certed. “Tom,” said he to his apprentice who accompanied him, “take my watch and my chain and these coppers home to my missus at once. There seems to be dishonest people about this house.” comicbooks.com