Life, 1891-03-19 · page 5 of 14
Life — March 19, 1891 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "A Little Misunderstanding at the Zoological Gardens" This page satirizes visitors' behavior at zoos through anthropomorphized animals mimicking human social conduct. The top panel shows people interacting with various animals (giraffes, primates, etc.), while the bottom depicts animals behaving like humans in social situations. The accompanying poem by James G. Burnett criticizes literary snobs and conceited individuals who disparage others. It appears to mock provincial intellectuals and those with unearned pretension—people who dismiss others while claiming superiority. The satire's central joke: zoo animals imitating human social follies. By depicting animals adopting human behaviors (posturing, social climbing, affected manners), the cartoonist suggests humans' "civilized" conduct is itself bestial or undignified. It's social commentary wrapped in zoological humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. O you, who came from other lands To show us plainly what A literary snob may be, And gentlemen are not, Accept these lines, with this regret— And everyone will share it, “ Provincial” language is too weak To say one-half you merit. You think we have no ladies here, And flippantly regret them— Perhaps their husbands did not wish That you could say you met them. you who sce our faults so clear! Pray tell us, if you can, Why one who has so great a fame Should be so small a man? “* The pity of it!" that the torch Of genius that was hailed By all the earth, should flicker out, And prove—"' The Light That Failed.” In future, those who show contempt For some conceited stripling, Will not insult the patient ass, But say: “A —-——!" James G. Burnett,