Life, 1907-06-27 · page 15 of 25
Life — June 27, 1907 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1903 Life cartoon lampoons the judicial verdict following the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago that killed nearly 600 people. The main illustration depicts classical figures (representing Justice, Law, and civic authorities) in a scene of moral failure. The satire's target: a judge ruled the city's fire-safety ordinance invalid on a technicality—it applied only to part of the city. This legal "Flaw" meant no one faced consequences despite the massive loss of life. The accompanying poem parodies Mark Antony's funeral oration, sarcastically praising the judge and owners' lawyers for preserving the "honor" of law through technicalities while hundreds burned. The bitter refrain contrasts "the Flaw" (the legal loophole) with "the fire" (the actual tragedy)—suggesting the legal system prioritized procedure over justice for the dead. The brief jokes below are unrelated social humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PALLAS COLUMBIA REQUESTS FOR HIM The New Marc Antony (December, 1903, the Iroquois Theatre, Chicago, burned; almost six hundred lives lost. Recent judi- cial decision on the case : City ordinance pertaining to safety in theatres invalid, since it applies to only one part of the city: secondly, because it imposed no spe- cial duty 0a the defendants. No appeal: no redress for dead ot injured.) FRIENDS, Countrymen and Lawyers, lend me your ears; T come to praise the not to damn it. The learned Judge, the scrutinizing Judge, Hath said the Ordinance did not apply Wherein the Theatre was not. Thus, with this pretext, I come to speak at Equity’s funeral. (For Equity was anxious to repay, Was willing, waiting, faithful, just and meek; Solicited by all the Dead with Crying Souls.) But then the learned Judge hath cried: “A Flaw; ‘The Law’s invalid.” Judge! O life-renewing technicalities, O wise and upright ‘TEDDYSSES APOTHEOSIS. X Which Equity received not! So much the Jant’s Counsel urged with tearful briefs, An honorarium for the families bereaved, The Judge, the cunning Judge, learned in the Law (Who knows th’ antiqui of evi And pre-Ju in pandects, sirs, Hath cried: “The Flaw got the fire, O Law, where is thy sting? surcease ? © Judgment, thou’rt enshrined in generous hearts! : (No aspersion on the Defendants, sirs.) The Law’s preserved its honor—more, too, than that— Its antebellum dust—and banked its fees! Whilst Equity was killed; its mantle rent! See, where the Flaw’s sharp dagger ran it through! Oh, what a jab the Owners’ Counsel made! Look—there Tradition, with a bias sweep, Channeled a gash, with art to emulate! 'y Code cell), ; straightway for- O Justice, thy A PLACE IN HISTORY Well done, good murderers! The noble Judge (So learned he knew the Flaw, forgot the fire), ‘The Owners and their Counsel and the rest (Who got a change of venue for fair trial, And got atrial so fair the Flaw was found)— All these—the parties of the Lion’s part— of course, Concur in this—the Flaw; six hundred, sirs, Burned to a crisp, concur in this—the fire! Before the Party OST: Why did you write all our guests that this is to be a very in- formal affair? Hostess: So I’d be sure to be the best dressed woman here. “Dos Barker’s wife dress appropri- ately?” “No, indeed. She wears forty horse- power togs in a runabout.” comicbooks.com