Life, 1897-08-19 · page 9 of 20
Life — August 19, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Life" Magazine Satire Page (Page 149) This page satirizes various public figures and cultural attractions of the era through mock "zoo" exhibits and curiosities: **Section V** ridicules prominent social figures—"Biddles," "Astors," and society names—as specimens worthy of display. **Section VI** mocks political figures: Mayor Strong, Governor Black, and Senator Platt as reformed characters, with Henry Cabot Lodge "thinking." **Section VII** ridicules Senator Morgan as an endurance specimen abusing stimulants. **Section VIII** presents "The Educated Reporter"—likely mocking sensationalist journalism. **Section IX** features "The Only Living Stuffed Bryan"—a cutting attack on William Jennings Bryan, portraying him as an automaton spouting memorized speeches rather than original thought. The bottom cartoon depicts an overworked author at his desk, satirizing literary ambitions and commercial pressures on writers.
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> LIFE: ee y. NY \} ae SE O 149 V.—THE SOCIAL ZOO. The finest aggregation of social lions yet seen. Seventeen genuine Biddles, ten Astors, fourteen Dyers, one Vanderbilt, three Bradley-Martins, in costume, and many others. VI.—THE MORAL WAXWORKS. Showing Mayor Strong drinking tea; Seth Low de- clining a nomination; Governor Black posing as a reformer; Senator Platt and Richard Croker shaking hands; Henry Cabot Lodge thinking. I1L.—THE HAPPY FAMILY. In one cage: Joseph Bullytyn, Larrykin Godby, Charles A. Damyer, and Willie, the Yellow Kid of Park Row. Do not fear them. They snarl but never bite, and the cage is strong IV.—LITERARY HANDICAP, Every night and at Saturday matinees. Between Richard Harding Davis, Rudyard Kipling and Stephen Crane. Mr. Kipling, scratch ; Mr. Davis, ten paragraphs start; Mr. Crane, twelve paragraphs start. After which, Mr. F. Marion Crawford will write an exhibition novel of sixty chapters in seventeen minutes. VIL—THE STRONG MAN. Never another like him. Senator Morgan will de- liver his famous after-dinner speech, without the use of stimulants, three times daily. Wonderful feat of endurance. VIII.—The greatest curiosity of the age. Captured with great difficulty in the Back Bay of Boston: THE EDUCATED REPORTER. Can write English and tell the truth. at cight. IX.—THE ONLY LIVING STUFFED BRYAN. Needs nocomment. Speaks for itself. The Keeley- motor of eloquence. Can be heard eight blocks away. Speaks on the following subjects: Me; Pewter; Yale College; How I missed it; Thoughts I don't think; The autobiography of a chameleon. Every night Please notice that this attraction delivers all these lectures simultancously and with only one mouth! Apussion, Frety Cents. WAIT! One More. Cittprex, HALr-PRICE. $§ Wiex I was a young man," continued the old author, reminiscently, ‘tI concentrated my en- deavors upon my work, and strove to secure the enthusiastic plaudits of the mightv army of my human brethren. It was my earnest hope and fondest expectation that I should some day achieve a literary {success alongside of which every other writer—past, present, and yet to come—would be left hopelessly inthe rear. In other words, I aspired to reach the very topmost pinnacle of the dizzy heights of Fame.” “And now?” questioned a young disciple of the pen. ‘And now,” repeated the old author, as he carefully ex- tracted a nickle and three copper pennies from the deep recesses of his inner vest pocket, ‘‘and now, I merely aim to keep posted upon the place where youcan get the most coffer. and sandwiches for the least money.” Aad as he passed the cashier's"desk he laid in a supply ot wooden toothpicks that absolutely dazzled the eyes of the beholders. comicbooks.com