Life, 1889-04-18 · page 12 of 21
Life — April 18, 1889 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire: Page 232 This page contains two satirical pieces mocking 1880s American politics and society: **"A Case in Point"** jokes that a lawyer's "case" at a wine merchant's (a bar) is his only client—mocking struggling lawyers. **"The Centennial Procession"** is a mock-serious list satirizing the April 30, 1889 centennial celebration of George Washington's inauguration. Life ridicules New York's political establishment by imagining a absurd parade order: incompetent sheriffs, politicians with "bloody axes," Elliott F. Shepard (a prominent reformer) chained while a "Fool-Killer" pursues him, corrupt aldermen wearing Irish stereotypes, and various minor politicians. The footnote sarcastically contrasts Washington's dignity with Ward McAllister's exclusivity and Elliott Shepard's pretension. **"Conciliatory"** shows a drunk husband meekly asking his angry wife for money from his wallet to buy her a sealskin jacket—satirizing both male weakness and female materialism. The overall tone: biting criticism of Gilded Age corruption, incompetence, and hypocrisy.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A CASE IN POINT. NCLE TOM: Got anything to do to-morrow, Jack? Jack: Yes; I've got to go down-town to try a case. UNCLE Tom: Then you've got a client at last ? JACK: Oh, this case isn’t in court; it’s at a wine mer- chant's, THE CENTENNIAL PROCESSION. ITH its customary enterprise, LiFe has secured the authentic order of march for the great Centennial Procession, to take place on April 30, and is the first to give it to an anxious public. It is as follows : TY SHERIFFS. (The Legislature of the State of New York being in town none of the police force can be spared from their regular beats.) THE PRESIDENT OF THE UniTED StaTEs, In a hack. MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, Carrying their Portfotios and Bloody Axes. Tue Unirep States Senate. Murat Hatsteap's HEAD ON A CHARGER, Ettiotr SHEPARD, The Elements Agitating his Whi Tue Foou-Kitier, chained toa platform and making vigorous efforts to get at Elliot F. hepard, (At the close of the procession Mr. Shepard will be given thirty seconds start and the Fool-Killer will be turned loose.) AN ELDERLY PeRsON NamMep MACALLISTER, arrayed in knee-breeches and on a platform wagon demonstrating to the assembled ruralists the proper way to dance the York. Tue Four Huxprep In closed carriages, (This feature must not be confounded with the funeral of Janitor Gilligan's aunt, which does not occur until the day after the procession.) Tue Four Hunxpkep Tiovusaxp Who knew the Four Hundred in the dfish Days. The Pepicrees or THE Dancers, Bound in Maroon Plush and carried on Golden Pillows, Tue Board oF ALDERME: Wearing Shamrocks and Shillelahs, and waving Green Flags. A Portrait of George Washington.* Tue Granp ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC and Tue Sons oF VETERANS, Acting as a body-guard to CorroraL TANNER, And carrying a banner with the inscription, “Down WITH THE SURPLUS!" Tue Orricers or THe RecuLar ARMY. THE REGULAR ARMY MARCHING BY HIMSELF, Basy McKee. Russ HARRISON AND Basy McCKek’s BOTTLE. Tue Innavitasts oF INDIANA, In Blocks of Fiv Goversor HILL AND HIS Basy Boom, Mayor GRANT AND THE BEE IN HIS BONNET. Tue N.G.S. N.Y, ADVERTISING VANS AND GOVERNORS OF STATES IN HACKS. THE Sans Culottes AND THE JUVENILE POPULATION OF THE Tenement House Districts. * George Washington was the first President of the United States. He was not so great a man as Elliott F, Shepard, nor so exclusive as Ward Mac- Allister, but was elected without catering to the Irish vote. By peculiar coincidence, the procession will occur on the one hundredth anniversary of his inauguration. Out of deference to the State Legislature and the Board of Aldermen, it had been intended to hold it on St. Patrick's Day, but it_was feared the weather might prove inclement. Metcalfe. CONCILIATORY. Alcohol-scented Voice: Dear! Angry One, with Broom: Wet? al.-S. V. (meekly): WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO GO UP IN MY STUDY AND GET THAT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT YOU WILL FIND IN MY WALLET TO BUY THAT SEALSKIN JACKET YOU ASKED ME FOR? comicbooks.com