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Drunk writer refuses tract from a benevolent lady - Irony
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Drunk writer refuses tract from a benevolent lady - Irony
Drunk refuses temperance tract from a benevolent lady, unaware that her sizzled target was actually the author of the aforementioned words of wisdom - wonderfully ironic cartoon by Phil May. Benevolent Lady (distributing tract to inebriate, who has refused to accept one) - " Do take one. If you read it, it ill do you good." Drunk (pulling himself together) - " Madam, I writes em." !!! Date: 1900
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Media ID 11574847
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Benevolent Charitable Charity Distributing Drunk Drunken Londoners Phil Plastered Result Scenario Sozzled Temperance Tract Tracts Twist Unexpected Unfortunate Wisdom Words Sreet
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In this and ironic cartoon by Phil May, titled "Drunk writer refuses temperance tract from a benevolent lady," we witness an unexpected scenario unfolding on the streets of London's East End around the turn of the 20th century. A kind-hearted, elderly lady, dressed in her Sunday best and carrying a stack of temperance tracts, approaches a disheveled, drunken man. With a concerned expression and a motherly tone, she urges him to take one, assuring him that it will do him good. However, the inebriate, struggling to maintain his composure, retorts with a surprising revelation: "Madam, I writes 'em." The irony of the situation is palpable. The benevolent lady, who has dedicated her time and resources to spreading the message of temperance and abstinence, encounters an unwitting recipient who is none other than the author of the very words she seeks to disseminate. The drunken man, oblivious to the irony of the moment, pulls himself together just enough to claim his authorship. This humorous and poignant illustration serves as a reminder that life's twists and turns can often present us with the most unexpected results. The scene, set in London's East End, is a common depiction of the social conditions and street life of the time. The image evokes a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era and invites us to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the power of irony. This historical cartoon, published in 1900, offers a fascinating glimpse into the past and sheds light on the charitable efforts and social issues of the time.
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