Life, 1914-06-11 · page 16 of 44
Life — June 11, 1914 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This humorous poem-and-cartoon feature uses an anthropomorphic animal story to satirize romantic competition in the American Southwest. The narrative follows Maraquita, a young shepherdess protected by her wise ram "Filippino," as various suitors attempt to court her. The satire mocks a specific social type: the smooth-talking con man or false lover. Each rejected suitor—César Gil (vaquero), Claude Dulane (turquoise digger), and others—represents stereotypical Western frontier characters, all defeated by Filippino's protective vigilance. The joke's resolution inverts expectations: the "Handsome Stranger" Rollo Jones, a Texas Ranger, succeeds not through deception but by befriending the protective ram—treating it with respect, entertainment, and gifts. The implication satirizes the difference between genuine character and false seduction. The cartoon's three plates illustrate the action humorously. The note about "silver" appearing nowhere else in English suggests self-conscious wordplay typical of *Life* magazine's sophisticated humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1064 Songs of the States A New Mexican Bo-Peep ZAR the Llano Estacado famed for deeds of wild bravado, Winsome Maraquita Fancher, Orphan child of Bill the rancher, Led her flock of frisky muttons, Fed the pretty woolly gluttons— Lamb and wether, ewe and chilver,* Clothed in fleeces bright as silver. There she rambled, much respected, Free as air and well protected By her ram, a big Merino, Widely known as “ Filippino”. Wise he was; the world had schooled chim; Human Nature never fooled him. Maraquita, most acutely, Took his judgments ab-so-lutely. César Gil, a swart vaquero, Quite the gallant caballero (Though his legs were slightly bandy), Rode across the Rio Grande, Came a-courting Maraquita, Praising her as “ muy bonita!” Humbly bowing, sweetly sighing False, false vows of love undying. Filippino left his grazing, Turned and viewed the scene amaz- ing; Charged! and, headlong hurtling, fairly Met the Issue full and squarely. César Gil, the dusky dandy, Soared across the Rio Grande, Nore—First appearance of the only rhyme for “silver” in captivity! Fs.Aen A PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP IN THREE PLATES Rolling resonant “ carr-rrambas!” Still pursued by mocking lamb-baas, So it chanced with other wooers (False deceivers, base pursuers)— Claude Dulane the turquoise-digger, Faro Pete the thimble-rigger, Denbigh Booth the tragic mummer, Curtis Sharpe the hardware-drummer, Ellis Farnham Walsh of Reno, Came—and fled from Filippino. Now appeared a Handsome Stranger, Rollo Jones, the Texas Ranger, Bringing lots of love—a heartful! Brave and true, but gently artful. First he talked to Filipino, Talked of poker, whist and keno, Cattle, crime and_ politicians, Calming down the Ram's suspicions. Next, as though to serenade him, Lively, tuneful airs he played him,— Ragtime lilt and light fandango ;— Showed him how they dance the tango. Then he brought, with perfect breed- ing, Little gifts of dainty feeding (Since the grass was growing sparsely )— Carrots, turnips, beets and parsley. Thus the Ranger, true and cle: Made that Ram his friend forever. Well, the rest was bound to follow: Filippino, leading Rollo, Trotted up to Maraquita. Jones now calls her “ mi lindita”. Or he did, as I remember, When I saw them, last November, Eating prime Thanksgiving turkey At their home in Albuquerque. Arthur Guiterman, comicbooks.com