Life, 1894-07-19 · page 3 of 16
Life — July 19, 1894 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXIV, Number 603) This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"The Fish" cartoon** (top): A man in a boat asks a fish why it won't pull a fellow in—likely a general humorous comment about nature's indifference. 2. **"The Oyster and the Demagogue"**: A poem satirizing a demagogue (a rabble-rousing politician) who agitates against "riches and pelf" while enriching himself, contrasted with an honest oyster. The moral criticizes hypocritical politicians who claim to champion common people while pursuing personal gain. 3. **"Family Resemblances"**: A brief humorous exchange where a woman notes her baby resembles her husband's uncle, who "died when it was two days old"—dark humor about family genetics and infant mortality. The illustrations show period-appropriate clothing and reflect turn-of-the-century satirical magazine conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXIV. NUMBER 603. BORON: The Fish: CONFOUND YOU, WHY DON'T YOU PULL A FELLOW IN? THE OYSTER AND THE DEMAGOGUE. MORAL. — — The mouth of the Demagogue’s always agape To agitate, rant, eat and drink. Those only the fate of the Oyster escape Who stop to consider and think That raging all day against “riches and pelf ” Is only his way of enriching himself. Strife, clamor and claim, he will aid and abet, For everything’s game that comes into his net ; And, gaining his purpose, he don’t care a Ham What haps to an Oyster or Muddle-head Clam. W. D. Eltwanger. FAMILY RESEMBLANCES. ‘D whom does your husband think the baby resembles ? JOLLY old Oyster of Bizziport Bay, “ He thinks it resembles its uncle—a brother of his.” So happy and careless and free, “I didn’t know your husband had a brother.” Sputtered ‘round in the sand and kept singing away “He hasn't. It died when it was two days old.” As he sipped the sweet salt of the sea : “Oh! talk as you please about princes and kings, And teeter your knees to the flattered old things ; From the Queen to the Czar there is nary a one Has half of my measure of pleasure and fun.” But a Demagogue, idling around there belike, And aching to hear himself talk, Said all to himself, ‘* Now’s the time for a strike; I'll teach him ‘the Delegate’s Walk.’ So he answered aloud, ‘* My good friend, you speak well ; Your remarks do you proud ; they come fresh from the shell. But, and yet you forget your deplorable lot, Why ! man it’s a shame the rough coat you have got ! “Deed the shells of the commonest clams on the shore Are smoother and finer and bigger—what’s more : You're abused, but your cause I will help all I can If you'll only stand up for your rights like a man.” That is all ; for the rest of the story’s soon guessed. The Oyster is out, and there's trouble about ; : A PEDLAR DID START OUT THE RAIN BEGAN FALL- And somebody's busy, and somebody —well, ONE MORNING HIS STOCK OF IN TORRENTS, AND OH! HOW Some other Molluscan is filling his shell. OLD SPONGES TO SELL: THOSE SPONGES DID SWELL. pply you: Brewery. comicbooks.com