Life, 1896-04-02 · page 17 of 32
Life — April 2, 1896 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a theatrical satire based on Shakespeare's *Hamlet*. The image shows a figure (labeled as "Ham, Cleveland") in dramatic pose, quoting Hamlet's ghost scene. The OCR'd text presents scrambled Shakespearean dialogue. "Cleveland" likely refers to **Grover Cleveland**, U.S. President (1885-1889, 1893-1897). The satire appears to invoke *Hamlet*'s famous indecision and supernatural haunting to mock Cleveland's political hesitation or his response to some pressing issue requiring decisive action—the "ghost" possibly representing past political obligations or criticism. The phrase about "British Lion's nerve" suggests the cartoon critiques Cleveland's handling of American-British relations, perhaps during a trade dispute or foreign policy crisis. The theatrical language mocks what Life's editors saw as Cleveland's overwrought, ineffectual response to political pressure. Without the publication date visible, the specific crisis remains unclear, but the intent is clear: ridicule through Shakespearean parody.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ec Ham, Cleveland: MY FATE CRIES OUT AND MAKES EACH PETTY ARTERY IN THIS "ODY AS HARDY AS THE BRITISH LION’S NERVE. [Ghost beckons.) STILL am I INMAND ME, GENTLEMEN. (Breaking from them.] By HEAVEN, I'LL KF A GHOST OF HIM THAT LETS ME! I say, away! Go on; I'LL FOLLOW comicbooks.com