Life — July 19, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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# "Angloamaniacs at Prayer" - Life Magazine, July 19, 1883 This satirical cartoon ridicules wealthy Americans who excessively imitate British customs and culture—a phenomenon called "Anglomania." The central figure, depicted as a caricatured gentleman in formal dress, appears elevated and sanctified (note the halo and radiating light), suggesting these Anglophiles treated British manners almost religiously. The surrounding figures in prayer-like poses represent admirers worshipping this idealized Anglophile. The satire mocks the pretentiousness of American society's obsession with British fashion, speech, and etiquette during the Gilded Age, when wealthy Americans often adopted British affectations as status symbols. This reflects late 19th-century American anxiety about cultural identity and class aspiration during rapid industrialization.