Life, 1896-10-08 · page 6 of 18
Life — October 8, 1896 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page contains two distinct elements: **Upper section:** A conversational piece about newspaper journalism. Chapman and Hawkins debate whether newspapers print scandalous stories responsibly. Hawkins defends publishing an "outrageous story" as the work of "a clever reporter," while Chapman argues editors should exercise restraint. The dialogue satirizes tension between sensationalism and journalistic ethics—a perennial concern. **Lower cartoon:** Titled "The Wake: From Life's Recent Discoveries of Early Egyptian Jokes," this depicts an ancient Egyptian funeral scene with hieroglyphic-style figures. The caption's humor relies on the anachronistic suggestion that Egyptians told jokes about their own funeral practices, mocking both pseudo-scholarly antiquarianism and the magazine's own comedic pretensions. Both pieces critique media and intellectual practices of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
266 OUR FRESH AIR FUND. Previously acknowledged........ $4233 52 Proceeds of a Fair organized by the children of the officers of the U. S. Army at Madison Barracks, Sackett Harbor, N. Y.. Cross and Crown .. 103 54 400 Say2at 05 “Well, there must be a little fire where there is so much smoke,” said Chapman, contentiously. (He has to pay five thou- sand a year in alimony, and he takes an unholy joy in matrimonial troubles.) “Smoke? Do you call the irrespon- sible and vulgar tattle of a newspaper, ‘smoke ’?” questioned Tim. with fire in his eye. ‘It's nothing but a malarial mist that rises from Printing House Square early every morning and even- ing, blinding our eyes and putting a stench into our nostrils.” And he stopped for breath. We all smiled at his mixed metaphor, and Halsey loudly applauded from his corner. “Well, you'll see,” said Chapman, rather weakly. Just then Hawkins came into the reading-room, and Chapman spied him. “Hey there, Hawkins; come in here a minute,’ he called through. ‘What is it?” said Hawkins, as he came up leisurely. Like all editors, he has an indulgent FROM LIF *LIFE: smile, that seems to gracious- ly excuse every one for liv- ing; and, unlike most editors. he’s well groomed and fas- tidious. “We want to know if there's any truth in that scandalous thing you printed this morning,” demanded Tim. “T suppose so, or it wouldn't have been printed,” replied Hawkin: sitting down and lighting his cigar. “You suppose so?” “Yes, the story was brought in by one of our cleverest re- porters.” I looked over to see how Hal- sey was taking the conversation ; but he was talking to a tall, dark fellow who had just come in. I thought I had seen him before, but I couldn’t place him. “What proofs had he?” continued Tim. ‘*Proofs?” questioned Hawkins, in- credulously ; ‘My dear fellow, if we ever waited for proofs, we would be annuals instead of dailies. **You don’t mean to say that you published that outrageous story on the simple ‘say so’ of a clever reporter?” said Tim. “T certainly do, and was glad of the chance,” said Hawkins, a little defiantly. THE WAKE. '§ RECENT DISCOVERIES OF EARLY GOOD ENOUGH AT A PINCH. “Well, I have my opinion of such methods,”’ and Tim drew in a long breath, while contempt shone from his eyes. “You are welcome to it,” snapped Hawkins; then he added, unwisely, though evidently with intent to relieve the tension: ‘I'll send the same repor- ter up to you to get your opinion of Mrs. Peyton's—what shall we call it— escapade? You know I'm always will- ing to give both sides a show. “See here, Hawkins,” said Tim, “1 consider you damned impertinent.” ‘You're too young to use such big words,” replied Hawkins, coolly, while EGYPTIAN JOKES. comicbooks.com