Life, 1896-04-30 · page 3 of 20
Life — April 30, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXVII, Number 696) This page contains three satirical pieces: **"The Man and the Serpent"** (fable): A man sleeps under a tree and dreams of a serpent sent by "Jove." Upon waking, he's relieved the pink elephant and feathered hippopotamus weren't real—a joke about alcohol-induced hallucinations. The moral critiques that "Jove himself couldn't get a position as Sunday School Superintendent on his reputation," likely mocking the hypocrisy of religious institutions. **"Ballad of Booms That Were"**: A poem lamenting vanished figures like "Platt," "Grant," "David Hill," and "Warner Miller"—appears to reference prominent political/social figures whose influence has faded, asking "Where are the booms of the vanished year?" **"At the Road-House"**: A brief joke about a driver asking someone to watch for "Raines Bill" while he drinks, referencing Prohibition-era alcohol legislation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NUMBER 696. THE MAN AND THE SERPENT. MAN, who had lived a beautiful purple life, went to sleep under a tree in the forest. Jove sent a huge serpent to destroy him. The man awak- ened as the reptile drew near. “What a horrid sight!” he said. ‘‘ But let us be thankful that the pink and green elephant and the feathered hippopotamus are not also in evi- dence.” And he took a dose of bromide and commended himself again to sleep, while the serpent withdrew in some confusion. What this proves to a thinking mind: Jove himself couldn't get a position as Sunday School Superintendent on his reputation. H.W. Phillips, , AT THE ROAD- HOUSE. TROEEseY (to driver): Look out for the Raines Bill, while I go in and get a drink, S a general thing, the less you have to say the more people you can get to listen to you. BALLADE OF BOOMS THAT WERE, TELL me in what hidden haunt Is Flower, with his blighted glee? And Croker where,and Hughey Grant, A grateful kinsman, where is he? And‘Echo P/att, responsive Me, Whom yokels o'er the river hear, Above the Harlem Bridge, so free 2— Where are the booms of the vanished year! And where is wily David Hill, On}whom, in some unhallowed hour, The spell of Dennis, settling chill, Bereft him of his carly power ? And where doth Warner Miller cower, Whom that jade, Fortune, chuckéd sheer Outside the breastworks, stark and stour ?— Where are the booms of the vanished year! O Grover, prince; O sire, refrain In fate's recesses dark to peer, Lest eke for thee this verse remain : Where are the booms of the vanished THE MIDNIGHT DRILL. comicbooks.com