Life, 1893-10-19 · page 9 of 18
Life — October 19, 1893 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Song of the Wall Street Bear" This is a satirical poem celebrating financial market crashes and economic disaster. The "Wall Street Bear" persona gleefully anticipates stock market collapses, bank failures, and economic calamity—viewing them as entertainment ("I love to see things crash!"). The accompanying illustrations depict: 1. **Upper panel**: Wealthy figures in conversation about breach of promise (likely a legal/financial dispute) 2. **Lower panels**: Street scenes with what appear to be common people affected by financial turmoil The satire targets Wall Street speculators who profit from—or relish—economic devastation that harms ordinary citizens. The bear's "watchwords" are "Calamity! Disaster! Despair," mocking how financial elites celebrate crashes while the broader population suffers consequences. This reflects early-20th-century critiques of speculative finance and wealth inequality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIF E= THE SONG OF THE WALL STREET BEAR. Ss LOVE the doleful tidings that precipitate a crash, And send things down in Wall Street *' to ever- lasting smash !” Disaster and catastrophe they fill my soul with joy, And at rumors of the cholera I dance just like a boy. 1 love to read of failures ; Of a riot ; of a strike ; That the Sherman Law will bust us. O! That is what I like. At the awfulest predictions I laugh with ghoulish glee, For I'm a rampant Wall Street Bear, And these are ‘‘ nuts” for me, Oh! When the times are prosperous I sigh and tear my hair; At every batch of cheerful news Oh! You should hear me swear !! For my watchwords are Calamity ! Disaster! and Despair! They ** knock the bottom out of things” For this rabid Wall Street Bear. At home they think that dear Papa is everything that's right, For the ‘*bluer” that the country gets my home is made more bright. I knock ten points from Whiskey and spend it on Champagne, For balls and routs and dinners and get newspaper fame ,— She: 1 MAY SUE YOU FOR BREACH OF PROMISE, I CAN ES- TABLISH A MOTIVE. He: NVeS—FOR THE BREACH, BUT NOT THE PROMISE. Cnorus— For I'm a Bear! a Wall Street Bear! I love to see things crash ! The country " going to the dogs"! ! And everything to smash !!! My watchwords are Calamit Disaster ! and Despair! A Panic's just the thing for me— I'm a rampant Wall Street Bear “VAT IS DE MATTER, LEOPOLD; VY YOU VEE: i “Vat You DINK! MY PRODER Isaac HAS CARRIED AWAY Old Lady (severely): WY DON'T YOU NEWSBOYS KEEP YOUR- Py A VESTERN TORNADO, NOT A TRACE OF HIM TO BE FOUND.” SELVES CLEAN? “BE COMFORTED, LEOPOLD; JUST DINK, NO FUNERAL EX- Boy: Hun! Wor's THE GooD OF A FELLER A FEELIN’ ABOVE. PENSES.” HIS OCCYPATION ?