Life, 1894-08-23 · page 11 of 14
Life — August 23, 1894 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 123: Life Magazine Satire This page contains satirical correspondence addressing John L. Sluggem regarding various business disputes and collection matters. The left side features cartoon illustrations of animals (deer, goats, and other creatures) in exaggerated poses, likely satirizing human behavior through anthropomorphism—a common Life magazine technique. The letters mock Sluggem's involvement in questionable business dealings, including disputes with lawyers in the "Smoke-stack Building" and implied debt collection issues. References to "Hell's Kitchen" (a rough Manhattan neighborhood) and telegram exchanges suggest urban commercial disputes of the era. The bottom includes a brief domestic joke about sharpening a pencil versus shaving—typical period humor about marital misunderstandings. The overall satire targets business fraud, debt evasion, and urban commercial dishonesty through mockingly formal correspondence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> LIFE: 123 Sluggem’s mind, he having occasion to visit so many queer whiskey shops and run across so many swindling rum-sellers ia the course of his business. Yours for Joun L. Suucces, To Messrs. Dove & Lamp, Tommy, THE Goat. Smoke-stack Building. No. V. Telegram, marked “ Rush.” New York, April sth, To John 1.. Sluggem, Pug's Arms, Rowery:—Rummy & Grogg’s address is 1106 Fifteenth avenue, in district known as Hell's Kitchen. Dove & Lams. No, VI. Type-written. Orrice or Dove & Lamp, ATTORNEYS-AT-Law, SMOKE-STACK BUILDING, New York, April sth. Gentlemen :—We enclose copies of letters of the and and 4th of this month from Mr. John L. Sluggem, of the Pug’s Arms, with regard to your claim against him for $20.05, placed in our hands for collection, We have no doubt from the tone of these letters that you will be able to arrange the matter with him amicably, and without any further assistance from us. Please send us a cheque for $50 for our services in the matter by return mail, Yours most truly, Dove & Lams. To Messrs. Rummy & Groos, Hell's Kitchen, No. VI. Telegram. New York, April 6th. To Rummy & Grogg, No. 1106 Fifteenth Avenue ;—What time before § o'clock to-morrow morning can I find one of you fellows in ? Joux L. Stuccem, Per Tommy, THE Goat, No. VIII. Letter sent by private messenger, marked “ Deliver at once! Im- portant! If not in, please forward.” Rusty & Groce, High Class Wines, Liquors and Cigars, No. 1106 1th Avenue. New York, April 6th. My Dear Mr. Sluggem :—Your kind telegram has just been received. We are very sorry to say that we are just closing our establishment for a thorough re-painting and repairing, which will probably take some weeks. If we can be of any service to you please communicate with us by telephone. By the way, we have received a communication to-day from a firm of lawyers in the Smoke-stack Building, from which we infer that they may have troubled you about a little matter we mentioned to them in joke, If this should turn out to be the case, we trust that you will believe that we are not to blame in the matter. We are only too glad to be able to furnish innocent amusement for yourself and any friends. Yours very cordially, Rummy & GRoac, Per R. Croker Rummy. P. S,—Owing to the fact that I left the matter in the hands of my partner, who has been compelled to go down to the District Attorney's Office several times this week to fix a little indictment for mayhem, I find that we have not yet subscribed to your benefit next Sunday. Please send me two boxes, C.O.D. To Hox, Joun L, SLUGGEM, Yours, R.C.R. Pug's Arms. Frank Marshall White, H USBAND: Yousharpened your lead pencil last night, didn’t you? Wire: How did you know? HusBanp: I have just been trying to shave myself.