Life, 1888-05-03 · page 7 of 16
Life — May 3, 1888 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 251: Life Magazine Satire Analysis **Top Cartoon ("It's a Poor Rule, Etc."):** This depicts a parlor gathering where Wheatley (the host) pressures Swett, a professional elocutionist, to perform by reciting "The Cruise of the Nancy Bell." Swett deflects, suggesting Wheatley instead demonstrate selling flour from a barrel. The satire mocks the social obligation to perform entertainment at gatherings—the awkward expectation that guests must provide amusement on demand, particularly those with professional skills. **Lower Section:** Contains unrelated humorous skits and advertisements. "Not the Boy's Fault" depicts miscommunication between a messenger and Jawkins about travel time across Manhattan. "A Clear Case" shows a lawyer defending a prisoner accused of burning down an enemy's house, arguing "intermittent moral insanity." The page satirizes social conventions and legal absurdities of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“IT'S A POOR RULE,” ETC. Wheatley (the host): COME, SPOWT, YOU MUST RECITE FOR US THE “CRUISE OF THE Nancy BELL.” Spowt (professional elocutionist, after reciting the piece): Now, WHEATLEY, 11's YOUR TURN. EXCHANGE; OUT WITH YOUR FLOUR BARREL AND SHOW US HOW YOU SELL IT. and ridicule them. If the “mighty Edwards” had “stamped his iron-heel” in New England instead of moving to New Jersey, there might remain in that region a little more faith, charity and intellectual tolerance. Droch. + NEW BOOKS - A CASTLE IN THE AIR, By Hugh Ewing. New York: Henry Holt Negro Myths. By Charles C. Jones, Jr. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. The Laws of Euchre. Ticknor & Co. Ethics of Boxing and Manly Sport. Boston: Ticknor & Co. By H. C. Leeds and James Dwight. Boston: NOT THE BOY’S FAULT. AWKINS (furiously, to messenger): Confound it! What do you mean by taking three hours to go from Wall Street to Fourteenth and back? MESSENGER (humbly): Couldn't help it, sir. You told me to take a Broadway car. YOU ARE ON THE PRODUCE T" is not yet known who will receive Jay Gould's opposi- tion in the coming Presidential contest, but both parties are competing strenuous- ly for it. A CLEAR CASE. AWYER QUIBBLE: And so, for a fan- cied insult, you burned down your enemy’s house, and carved him to pieces as he tried to escape? PRISONER: Yes. QUIBBLE: Good! I'll get you off easily. It’sa clear case of intermittent moral insanity. NOT TO BE LAUGHED SAT.