Life, 1891-02-05 · page 12 of 16
Life — February 5, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis **Top Cartoon**: A man lounges uninvited on someone's porch during bad weather, claiming he'll stay comfortable "until the sun comes out." When the homeowner's son appears, the intruder flees. This is a simple comic scenario about an audacious trespasser who's emboldened by the owner's absence but cowardly when confronted. **"The Jesters" Poem**: This celebrates modern jesters—witty individuals in contemporary dress (patent leather shoes, modern hats, overcoats instead of medieval motley). The poem suggests these comedians and comic-paper writers are spiritual descendants of court jesters, keeping humor alive in modern times. It's a romantic, nostalgic tribute to comedians' social role. **Bottom Cartoon**: A rural visitor on a New York streetcar remarks that cars move slowly despite New York's reputation for speed. The host explains: the line is owned by Philadelphians. This is regional satire—a mild jab at Philadelphia's reputation as slower or less efficient than New York.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHY ARE YOU SITTING ON MY PIAZZA?) WHAT DO you want?" “THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I THOUGHT I'D MAKE MYSELF COMFORTABLE UNTIL THE SUN COMES OUT.” ‘THE SON COMES OUT. THE JESTERS. S strange, and yet in all the tales Of love and glory that are told Of ancient Kings and all their Courts, Or old Crusaders brave and bold, — roon-7. My fancy does not dwell upon Wy _ The ladies of those olden times, 'f-@ Nor on the Knights who loved then aw then, But on the man who wrote their rhymes. The motley fool with all his wit, And ever quick and ready tongue, On all his quips, and jokes, and jests, And all the merry songs he sung. And if the Buddhist bards be right, And it be true that souls of men Return from Paradise, to walk, In human form, this earth again, 1 know where those old jester’s souls The most congenial life would find, And, as I write, I feel I know A hundred of them in my mind. In patent leather shoes they walk, Instead of pointed slippers now, And in the place of cap and bells, Wear modern hats upon their brow. A heavy overcoat succeeds The ruffled doublet known of yore, And long creased trousers take the place Of gaily colored hose they wore. But still their hearts are warm and true, And still they play their pranks and capers, And some have gone upon the stage, And some write rhymes for comic papers, —James G. Burnett, EXCEPTIONS FROM THE RULE. Rural Visitor (on Bleecker street car): Dear ME! How THESE CARS DRAG ALONG, I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WENT WITH A RUSH in New York, New York Host: THis LIne 18 OWNED BY PHILADELPHIANS, comicbooks.com