Life, 1896-05-14 · page 9 of 20
Life — May 14, 1896 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Ambitious Hippopotamus" - Fable Analysis This is a fable illustrated with ink drawings showing a hippopotamus who gains wings and attempts to fly, causing chaos among jungle animals (giraffe, birds, etc.). The story satirizes social ambition—specifically the dangers of aspiring beyond one's station. The hippopotamus, content in her natural role, becomes "fired with a desire to fly," gaining wings through prayer. Her attempt ends in disaster: she crashes through the forest uncontrollably, terrifying other animals. The moral critiques overambition and suggests that accepting one's predetermined place in society is safer than striving for advancement. The final quote—"It takes more than nine bloomers to make a man"—implies that outward changes cannot fundamentally alter one's nature. This reflects early 20th-century conservative social attitudes about class mobility.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FABLES FOR THE TIMES. THE AMBITIOUS HIPPO- POTAMUS. HIPPOPOTA- MUS who had dwelt contentedly for years on the banks of a reedy stream, looked up one day and saw an eagle. She became immediately fired with a desire to fly. Having lived astaid and respectable life that could not but find favor in the eyes of the gods, she raised her voice in prayer. Jove smiled a little but granted her re- quest. On the instant a pair of broad, pow- erful wings were af- fixed to her shoul- ders. She was naturally atrifle nervous about trying them at first, but finally mustered up her courage. Away sheswooped, and with ‘a pardon- able vanity took her course over a piece of jungle where some old friends lived. Precisely thirty- eight seconds later .a convention of ani- mals, all swearing and trembling with fright, were trying to conceal themselvesin the same three-by- four hole in the ground, The effect on the other animals discon- certed the good-na- tured hippopotamus to such an extent that she lost control ra of herself and sailed : ‘ N through the forest like an avalanche on a bender. Down went the trees, _ ished little hippopotamuses out into mid-stream. and crack went the branches, while horror-stricken ‘Oh, Jupiter! take ‘em off!" she gasped. ‘‘ I now see beasts with bristling hair split the welkin with their that the hippopotamus was not intended to fly.” shrieks. The hippopotamus made for home at her best speed. Arriving over the familiar spot, she let go all holds and came down ker-splash in the mud, knocking the aston- H.W. Phillips. Immoral: It takes more than nine bloomers to make a man. comicbooks.com