Life, 1896-04-09 · page 6 of 20
Life — April 9, 1896 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page features a satirical duet titled "The Sunday Weird and The Sunday Infernal," depicting a dialogue between two competing newspaper sections. The illustration shows figures in an interior setting, likely representing newspaper editors or personified sections of publications. The satire mocks sensationalist Sunday newspaper supplements of the era—particularly their competing claims to expose scandals and attract readers through increasingly lurid content. "The Sunday Weird" and "The Sunday Infernal" represent rival papers engaging in one-upmanship, each boasting of more shocking revelations and scandals they've uncovered. The accompanying text "Maternal Encouragement" appears to satirize how such sensationalism affected families and social reputation. The satire critiques the yellow journalism competition between publications vying for readership through scandal rather than substantive reporting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
286 Ijstole his “special men Without apologising ; He got some back, and then (You might think this surprising), In half a crack I got them back— ‘Thus neatly signalising How they are him despis- ing! In seasons past I bore A douptful reputation A creature to abhor By men of education. And though some claim I'm still the same, I scorn th’ insinuation And boom my circulation ! And now I'm in the field, For favor I'mcontesting ; ‘The features that I yield, If low, are interesting ! I underwent New management Just for such manifesting, And what I yearn And burn to learn Is, ‘Can 1 bear digest- ing?" (At the conclusion of his song, * The Sunday Infernal” is about to step back, when “' The Sun- day Weird” rushes for- ward and they indulge in the following recrimina- tions :) DUET. —Tue Sunpay Weirp and Tue Sun- DAY INFERNAL. SUNDAY INFERNAL: You made it, yes, but nevertheless You howled it East and West! Suxpay WetrD: Tis useless quite to try and fight The mighty Sunday Weird! AY INFERNAL: Goto—goto! Thouarta Jew! We're nota bit afeard ! ‘Day WEIRD: Well, what's your claim to bear the name Of New York's greatest pest ? SUNDAY INFERNAL: You must be dense! I'm but three cents— Five cents are asked for you ! Sunpay Weirp: You're not worth one, but,since it's done, I'll do the cut act, too! Sunpay Werrp: ‘That I'm a Jew is very true— All note my nasal organ; But can you shine with deeds like mine ? 'Twas I who roasted Morgan! SuNDAY INFERNAL: You made a back at Cleveland's back And hounded Pierpont M., 1 grant, but this is characteris- tic of Jerusalem ! he does so, on his daily edition, with great Srourish of trumpets, Brooklyn, and Iud- son and Essex Counties, N. J., are shaken to their very depths.) Sunpay INFERNAL: It's war and strife, then, to the knife ? Sunpay WeirD: Withhold your sneers and brutal jeers, You wretched Gentile scoffer ! When they purveyed the bonds, who made Suxpay WerrD: ‘That million-dollar offer ? Yes; and your demolition! (Action interrupted for the moment while” MATERNAL ENCOURAGEMENT. EARIE, IF YOUR SISTER JANET IS ENGAGED THIS SPRING YOU MAY COME OUT NEXT SEASON. Both (turning simultancously to The Pop- | ulace): Now,of us twain,which gives most pain? Come, give us your decision ! (The Populace sinks into deep and troubled thought. The pause which en- sues is taken advantage of by The Solar One who casts ironical beams on the assem- blage, and hums the following with soft contempt +) SONG.—Tue SoLar One. The means that each is using , To influence the choosing Incline me straight Tocongratulate The side that shall be losing ! Whichever it is! But it's not my biz— 1 gaze on it all with derision! But, Populace true, They're waiting for you— Come, give them that wise decision ! comicbooks.com