1283: Mr. Arbuckle's Cat

From SRoMG Explained
(Redirected from 1283)
Jump to navigationJump to search
Mr. Arbuckle's Cat
Mr. Arbuckle's Cat.png
Made by: The Madb


Explanation[edit | edit source]

In the original strip, Jon left for a date and discovered that his bow tie collection was used as kindling for the fire. In this edit, he leaves to go out on a night in Chicago's downtown, only to discover that Garfield somehow managed to burn the entire city in the fireplace. This is, of course, referencing the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 (which more or less destroyed the entire town).

The description facetiously claims that the strip ran in the Chicago Tribune exactly one month after the fire (hence the faded look), and that it is "proof" that Garfield somehow caused it. Both the title and description allude to "Mrs. O'Leary's cow" -- the traditional explanation for the fire's beginning is that said bovine had kicked over a lantern in O'Leary's barn. In 1893, the reporter that originated this admitted that he made it up "as colorful copy", long after the real Mrs. O'Leary's life had been ruined as a result of the story.

The author writes:[edit | edit source]

I have uncovered proof that it was Garfield the Cat, not Mrs. O'Leary's cow, that set the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Here it is. A strip from the Chicago Tribune, November 8, 1871.

Original SRoMG strips: #51, #1223.

Original Garfield strip: 1985-11-08.

Transcript[edit | edit source]

{The strip is yellowed and faded with time.}
{Jon and Garfield relax before a roaring fire in the fireplace.}
Jon: Garfield, you make a lovely fire.
Garfield: I do make a lovely fire.
{Jon gets up, petting Garfield.}
Jon: I must make ready for my night on the town. You enjoy your lovely fire.
Garfield: I'll enjoy my lovely fire.
{Jon goes out-of-frame. He shouts back to Garfield:}
Jon: Hey! What happened to Chicago ?!?!
Garfield: It made a lovely fire.