Life, 1890-03-13 · page 5 of 20
Life — March 13, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Parrot & Cuckoo: A Tragedy" This is a satirical one-act play featuring anthropomorphic birds. The parrot describes how a cuckoo bird tyrannically controls a household by calling "Cuckoo!" — at which the family obeys unconditionally, marching to school, going to lunch, and treating the bird like "Pretty Polly." The satire appears to mock blind obedience to authority figures or social conventions. The parrot warns that the cuckoo's reign will end fatally. The bottom illustration shows two men in conversation, with dialogue about a son who "has failed in business and professional life" and a suggestion to "buy him a seat in Congress" — a direct jab at political corruption and the buying of Congressional seats, implying wealth could secure positions regardless of competence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
149 What ! won’t you come? then I'll soon show you how ! There ! stop that whirring ; heavens, what a row ! 2 ee stop it some one! 6 (1t stops.) : Well, upon my word, 1 You're tough for such a very little bird, I thought you'd never die ! and now, my dear, "Brag, The family will very soon be here, And when they see how little’s ha left of you . Cuckoo: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo ! yy They’ be: 20, giad they won't know Parrot: Hark, there she goes! what to do— To hear her any parrot would suppose To think the Cuckoo's killed and they ~~ __ She owned the earth, conceited are free ; ~~~ little thing, To work or play or sleep or take their tea ~ She really seems to fancy she Just when they please—and, most of all, how jolly can sing. 2 To feel they owe it all to ‘ Pretty Polly!” And, though you'll scarce believe, Curtain, that little bird Rules the whole blessed household with a word. She“only has to call ‘Cuckoo! and lo! The family at once to luncheon go. When she screams ‘‘ Cuckoo!" twice it is ‘ the rule For all the little ones to march to school— Then when she screams six times that is a sign That Cuckoo thinks it's time for them to dine. And so it goes through all the livelong day, She tells them what to do and they obey. And as for me, they treat me like a doll And mimic me and call me ‘‘ Pretty Poll,” And ask me several million times a day, “Does Polly want a cracker ?"—by the way I've yet to see that cracker—oh, sometimes I gnash my beak, or matter nursery rhymes Or anything ! for fear I should let slip The wicked words they taught me on the ship, Next time the Cuckoo squalks will be her last. Next time she tries— Cuckoo (striking Sour o'clock) : **Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo ! Cuc—” PARROT (smashes the Cuckoo to bits, causing the machinery to run down): Come,now,havedone! we've heard enough from you! Prepare to die! your “1 pon'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY SON. HE HAS FAILED little reign is o'er, IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND APPEARS TO BE GOOD Over this house you'll = FOR NOTHING.” tyrannize no more! \ ““WHY DON’T YOU BUY HIM A SEAT IN CONGRESS?” Scene: The vicinity of the Cuckoo Clock. Cuckoo discovered in the act of telling three o'clock, Parrot watching Srom a perch near by. comicbooks.com