Life, 1892-05-26 · page 13 of 18
Life — May 26, 1892 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces: **"The Difficulties of Cerberus"**: A visual joke depicting the three-headed dog from Greek mythology. One head wants to wag their shared tail to greet an approaching friend, but the other two heads object—illustrating the absurdity of a three-headed creature trying to coordinate unified action. **"A Change"**: A humorous poem about a young man named Cholly who, after attending college and frequenting clubs, now comes home drunk at 2 A.M. and sees lampposts as animated, shape-shifting objects (sky-rockets, torchlight processions). The satire mocks drunkenness and the transformation of perception alcohol causes. **Philosophy Quip**: A brief witty exchange between characters named Hicks and Cynicus about diet determining character—with the implication that Cynicus eats little, explaining his cynical nature. All three pieces are light, humorous commentary typical of Life's satirical approach to social behavior and human nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
_——, THE DIFFICULTIES OF CERBERUS. First Head: 1 say. The Other Two: Wat? F. H.: 1 Se A FRIEND OF MINE COMING. IF YOU TWO DON'T OBJECT I'D LIKE TO WAG OUR TAIL. “YASH ALL RIGHT, DARLING, JUSH RING FER ‘LITTLE SHELSHER (HIC) AN' TURN UP TH' LIGHT.” A CHANGE, EFORE Cholly went to college A lamppost on the sidewalks brim An iron lamppost was to him, And it was nothing more. But now, when he is coming home from the club at 2 A. M., is it con- siderably more. It is astonishing what changes a lamppost can make. It ties itself into bow-knots, makes itself into a sky-rocket, does the most remarkable feats, and just as Cholly approaches it to see if it is possible that he is dreaming, it forms itself into a torchlight procession and marches off, leaving Cholly to find a soft board on one of the park benches to reflect on it till morning. “ce EN become what they eat,” said Hicks. You don’t cat much, do, you,” said Cynicus. comicbooks.com