Life, 1895-10-24 · page 17 of 20
Life — October 24, 1895 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical anecdotes mocking American social pretension and railroad bureaucracy, plus an advertisement. **First story**: A man saves a railroad passenger's life only to be rejected for a pass to Buffalo. The punchline: the "rescued" man (Clark) is a chronic litigant who previously sued the railroad for a broken leg. The railroad president ironically thanks him for *not* letting Clark drown, since his death would have cost less in settlements than the man's living lawsuits. The satire targets corporate indifference and the absurdity of injury litigation. **Second story**: An Italian baron insults Americans at a British Embassy reception in Rome, praising English manners over American ones—only to learn his conversation partner, the Duchess of Manchester, is herself a New York woman. The satire mocks British snobbery toward Americans and the irony that wealthy American heiresses were marrying into British aristocracy, making such condescension foolish. Both stories exemplify *Life*'s satirical humor about American social climbing and institutional hypocrisy. The bottom advertises C.D. Gibson's exhibition of original drawings.
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HE looked a bit hard up but he had a pleasant face and smooth address as he walked into the office of a New York railroad running West and asked for the president. When conducted to that official's desk he began : “+ T want the favor of a passto Buffalo,” “Can't have it,” was the prompt reply. “TL expected that answer, and am prepared for it, I did not come here with a tale of woe. I have not been I did not lose money on the street. 1 am not obliged to rush home to see my wife die. I am not a con- sumptive who is anxious to get home and dieamong friends. These pleasare old.” “Yes, very old and thin.” “And yet I want a pass to Buffalo. 1 feel that I have a right to ask it.” “On what grounds?” “This morning I saved the life of a passenger on one of your transfer boats. He was a big red-whiskered man named Clark. Had he gone overboard it would have cost you perhaps $50,000 to settle the claim.” “Clark? Big man with red whiskers? Wretched man, you know net what you did! That is the man who has already got a claim for $20,000 against us for breaking his leg. If you had only let him go overboard we cculd have settled with his heirs for less than a quarter of that amount, Go out—go away. You have taken thousands of dollars out of our pockets by your meddlesome act. Go right away if you don't want to be put in the cell with Garvey.” The beat walked out without a word, but as he reached the door he was heard to grumble : “Tthought I was the best liar on the Atlantic coast, but I might as well hang up from this deal. not in it with Chauncey."— Texas Siftings. Iv is not quite safe to criticise Ameri- cans in the “higher circles” of British society, unless the critic has studied thoroughly the pedigree of those whom he addresses. So many American girls nowadays are becoming a part of the “effete” aristocracy of the Old World ! Not long ago, ata reception given in Rome at the British Embassy, an Italian baron, who was presented to the Duchess of Manchester, sighed deeply, as with relief, and said to her: “Ah! How glad I am to get away from those Americans there! We come across them everywhere, don't we, duchess ?- You can’t imagine how happy 1am to converse with you—there is such accntrast between the mannersof English and American women ! The duchess let him go on as long as he liked in this way, and then said, with a gracious smile : Perhaps you are right, baron: but < myself an American, I am no doubt incapable of judging.” The baron wished that the floor would swallow him up, and reflected that he should have known, as every one else did, that the Duchess of Manchester was a New Vorker.— Youti's Companion. EXHIBITION AND SALE OF ORIGINAL DRAWINGS C. D. GIBSON, October 23d to November 7th, AT THE GALLERIES OF FREDERICK KEPPEL & CO., - - 20 East 16TH StReer. comicbooks.com