Life, 1894-10-18 · page 5 of 16
Life — October 18, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "A Reasonable Request" This satirical story by William Henry Sissler depicts a large man with "saffron colored whiskers" visiting the editor of the *Wahoo Paralyzer* (a fictional publication). The man is the new debt collector for a local butcher named Mr. Chops, and he's attempting to collect a $4.68 bill that has been outstanding for two or three months. The satire targets small-town life and the awkwardness of debt collection. The editor had previously written an editorial about gold supplies ("$287,400,000 in gold coin"), prompting the collector to suggest the editor should easily settle this small debt. The humor lies in the contrast between grand editorial pronouncements and the editor's inability to pay minor local debts—mocking pretentious journalism and financial hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
247 A REASONABLE REQUEST. s¢ ELL, sir, what can I do for you?” said the editor of the Wahoo Paralyzer, as he looked up from his desk and saw a large man with saffron colored whiskers standing in front of him, “You are the editor, are you ?” “I was reading last week's issue of the Paralyzer and | was much struck by one of your able editorials. You write the editorials, | presume?” “Yes, sir,” replied the editor, deeply gratified, for it was not often that citizens came in to commend the editorials, “What was the subject of the article which struck you so favorably, may I ask?” ba { s about the gold ques- tion,” “O, yes. I remember now, That editorial involved a great deal of research, sir, but I never spare any pains or begrudge the time thoroughly to investigate an important subject.” “You dealt with the gold supply, and I think you used an expression something like this : ‘We have now $287,400,000 in gold coin.’ I think I have quoted the amount just as you had it?” “You have, sir. My authority for the statement was the very best obtainable, sir.” “No doubt, no doubt. I did not come to dispute your state- ment, but to take advantage of it, sir.” “In what way?” “Well, I'm the new collector for Mr. Chops, the butcher, and it struck me that while you had so much gold on hand you might be willing to settle a little bill of $4.68 which has been running two or three months,” The editor silently counted out the money and took a “WERE THERE ANY OBJECTS OF INTEREST WHERE YOU SPENT THE SUMMER?” receipt. “No, NOTHING BUT GIRLS.” William Henry Siviter. comicbooks.com