Life, 1896-03-19 · page 8 of 20
Life — March 19, 1896 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "His Hallucination" This page satirizes **Alexander Harrisonius the Great** (a fictional or thinly-veiled caricature), who appears to be a pompous historical or political figure. The three-panel cartoon depicts: 1. St. Patrick driving out snakes while Harrisonius watches 2. Harrisonius attempting similar heroics with a sword 3. Harrisonius indoors, suggesting his "hallucination" of grandeur The accompanying text shows Harrisonius boastfully comparing himself to Alexander the Great and claiming credit for defeating "Mortonus Diogenes." The humor lies in his delusion of importance and his ridiculous proposal of a "barrel" as a national convention item—likely mocking his pretensions and absurd ideas. The satire targets personal vanity and self-aggrandizement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: HIS HALLUCINATION. AND THEN CAME THE NEXT MORNING. “Twill show you the way—in November !" cried Mortonus Diogenes, fiercely jamming the orphan's head into the pail. “And for service of such moment what can I do for you 7” asked the astonished Alexander Harrisonius, with an ill-con- cealed sneer. ‘Stand from between me and the sky—there’s a thunder shower coming,” was the significant rejoinder. * You?” Alexander Harrisonius cried in surprise. ‘1 am Alexander Harrisonius the Great, my good man. Pray, who are you?” “12? Lam Mortonus Diogenes,” was the proud reply. Drawing himself up, Alexander Harrisonius politely raised his hat—a famous heirloom. “If I were not Alexander Harrisonius the Great, I would be Diogenes Mortonus,” he said, with the grace of a courtier. ‘* And if you were Mortonus Diogenes you might be Presi- dent in '97," was the tart reply. “* How like the great Diogenes you are in crusty temper,” Alexander Harrisonius sneered. ‘‘ To increase the resem- blance you should procure a tub. “*A tub!” Mortonus Diogenes cried derisively. ‘* Why procure atub? The thing for a national convention is a barrel, and you'll hear from mine in June Earle H, Eaton, comicbooks.com