Life, 1883-05-17 · page 10 of 16
Life — May 17, 1883 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Universal Language" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes the difficulty of international communication through a traveler's Rhine River journey. The narrator attempts conversation with various Europeans—a German man, a French woman, an Irish priest—each responding in their native language, creating comic incomprehension. The caricatures represent national stereotypes: the German (formal, philosophical), the French woman (coquettish, unhelpful), the Irish priest (speaking Latin), and others. The joke culminates in the punchline that wine is the only truly "universal language"—transcending nationality and comprehensibility through alcohol's effects. The reference to "John Sherman" (likely the 19th-century American statesman) suggests American wine, adding nationalist humor. The multiple illustrated figures and bottom panel show various nationalities united in revelry, driving home the satirical point: humans cannot communicate across language barriers, but intoxication makes everything seem fine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE -: THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. H, the weather was fine, When I sailed down the Rhine; The sky was an orthodox blue up above us; And an old lady cried, Who sat by my side, “God a mercy, the paddle-wheels, how they do shove us!” Says I to a man near by : ** Sir, what a charming sky; I really know nothing to which I can liken it.” Then he nodded his head, As he feelingly said: “ Ya wokl, lieber Herr, er ist ganz ausgeseichnet.”” Turning then me another way: “Truly, a lovely day,” I remarked to a blonde who could not have been blonder ; Whereupon she said, smiling, In tones quite beguiling: ‘« Pardon, monsieur, mais—je ne peux pas comprendre.” Then I tackled a priest, Hoping Irish at least: “* Well arranged are these pleasant green valleys towinacuss,” Says I to him; but, When his mouth came unshut, His rejoinder was: * Sum pauper frater Dominicus.” But a bottle of wine Rendered everything fine— Aha! though it spoke through its nose it was rensible; French, Italian, or German, Or grown with John Sherman, It's the wine, when it talks, that is all comprehensible. comicbooks.com