Life, 1909-04-15 · page 7 of 36
Life — April 15, 1909 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is titled "Life April: An African Idyll or The Ananias Club Redivivus." The content satirizes colonial attitudes toward Africa and those who romanticize it. The top features decorative lettering with cherubic figures and a giraffe illustration labeled "Portrait of the Character of the Reception Committee." The main article, "Horses Wear Mourning for a Friend," appears to mock absurd colonial anecdotes—specifically referencing Boston horses mourning George T. Angell, described as "the friend of dumb animals," with exaggerated details about funeral processions with black ribbons. The postcard illustration shows lions in African landscape with handwritten-style captions, likely mocking overwrought colonial travel narratives and romanticized accounts of Africa circulating among American readers. The satire targets both colonial pretension and credulous audiences who accepted such exaggerated stories.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE Swn rose o'er The Wortp was The Tyre Writer most vilely Srew Young Kermit had a chill. nd hark! a Loatuty Beast and Tuomrson Seton bu Upsprang—or, well, got up, at least, Upon its face a look of guilt IN AFRICA PORTRAIT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RECEPTION COMMIT: rer. Horses Wear Mourning for a Friend OSTON horses are still wearing mourning for George T. Angell, “the friend of dumb animais,"’ who died last month. At his funeral, on March thirty work-horses, wearing no har- except bridles decorated _ with mourning rosettes, fell in behind the hearse at Trinity Church and followed it part of the way on its journey to Mt Auburn. Thousands of black ribbons were seen on horses on the day of Mr. Angell’s funcral and many are still be- ing worn. ness GOOD many people who say they are up against it mean they are a long way from it An African Idyll The Ananias Club Redivivus the Rosy Vetpr, Lyin still. “You lie! You lie!’’ the Coronet cried, “ By Care Van Stamm and Detavay.”* (I couldn't rhyme Smith, if I tried), “T'll put you now beneath the ban!" “The Ruixo cunt’? young Kermit cried, “ And cke the steel capped bullet, sir.”” The trigger jammed, The Coronet, “———ed !"" Said Kermit, “ Pull it! Punitzer!”” Harvey George. loath, Hf aaa 6 Pese. tre Rewasoete Ska these fre Can