Life, 1883-08-09 · page 4 of 16
Life — August 9, 1883 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine, August 9, 1883 The header illustration depicts a skeletal Death figure sitting in a chair beneath a crescent moon and bare tree—a memento mori image typical of 19th-century satirical publications. The text below consists of brief satirical "items" mocking contemporary news and personalities, rather than political cartoons. These include jabs at: - The Star Route jury's sanity - Police procedures and judicial blindness - Western Union's telegraph monopoly and Mr. Gould's business practices - The New York Times's misuse of child laborers - German restrictions on American hog imports - Various minor social observations The page functions as editorial commentary on current events, scandals, and absurdities rather than featuring illustrated political cartoons. It's representative of Life's satirical house-organ style from this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL. IL. AUGUST 9tn, 1883. 1155 BrRoapway, New York. Published every Thursday, $5 a year in advance, postage free. Single copies, 10 cents, Ovr misgivings about the sanity of the Star Route jury have been painfully confirmed. Mr. Dorsey has become a poet. e 2 8 N umbrella, an ulster, a fan, a pair of overshoes, a life-pre- server, two ear muffs and a seersucker suit are included in every careful citizen's luggage during the present season. * 6 6 HAT the Brooklyn police succeeded in arresting a croquet player in the very act Thursday, proves that justice is not so blind as she is reported to be. * 8 «8 [George Hoadly mindful of the duties of an advanced picket in this important strife ?—Louisvile Courier-Journal. Certainly he is, brother Watterson, picket’s duty is to stick to the fence. George knows that a es 6 8 HE vacant sale of articles found by the police in this city during the past year, showed up the excellent proportion of four hundred and twenty revolvers to two Bibles. This shows how popular prejudice runs. es 6 8 IGHTNING struck Mr. Henry M. Burt on Mt. Washington last week but inflicted no injury. Mr. Burt happened to be an editor. * 6 e ISS CHRISTINE NILSSON told Mr. Henry Irving re- cently that if he desired to produce an, impression in America he must learn the banjo, August 2nd the important news was cabled across that Mr. Irving had acted upon the ad- vice. August 4th it was noticed on ‘Change that there wasa feverish demand for buckshot and breech-loading guns. These are singular coincidences. * 8 @ TH German Government has strictly prohibited the importa- tion of American hogs. Mr. Hubert O'Thompson will make a brief tour through England, France and Italy. * 8 « “THE Western Union is offering great inducements to penni- less French girls who are desirous of making dots. The Republican party must go. THE accuracy with which our great daily contemporaries chronicle events in this city is among the wonders of the age. A man attacked a woman with a pistol at 3 o'clock last Thursday morning on Carmine street. Friday morning every journal in the city contained the thrilling news, with but these trifling variations. The Mew York Times narrated how ** Joseph Dias,” a ‘* Cuban Negro,” shot at ‘* Marcia Marthona,” but says her only wound was caused by a “blunt instrument.” The New York Sun said that Joseph ‘* Diaz” shot Mrs. “ Mar- thone,” a ‘tmulato"; and she received ‘four bullets in her head.” The New York World alleged that Diaz shot Mrs. “* Monsoni “two bullets inflicting serious wounds in her head.” The New York Herald supported the two bullets state- ment but claimed that it was Mrs. ‘‘ Marthoni” who was shot. Finally, the New York 7ridune said that Mrs. Marthoni had re- received “four bullets through the head,” and that one of the wounds was “dangerous.” e ee THE wily Mr. Gould has aborted the necessity for a postal telegraph by directing the Western Union to forward its dispatches by mail. The Democrats must go. e 8 8 M® JOHN L. SULLIVAN and Mr. Herbert Slade an- nounced by poster that they would spar with soft gloves “on their merits,” but each tried Monday evening to spar on the other's nose. Mr. Dana must go. s 8 « ovr highly esteemed contemporary the New York Times crually misjudges Mr. Gould's use of small boys in im- portant Western Union offices. Mr. Gould is a philanthropist. He wants the boys to grow up with the business. es 8 ¢& [7 252 poker party in Thompson Street and a big jack pot had been opened. There were evidently big hands out and the bets and excitement ran high, “ Looker hyer, Gus, whuffer yo’ rise dat pot?’’ exclaimed Mr. Tooter Williams, ‘ Nebber yo’ mine—yo! call, ef yo" isn’t 'fraid—yes, yo’ call—dat’s all!” retorted Gus sullenly. ‘I won't call! I rise yo’ back,” said Mr. Williams, whose vertebrae were ascending. “I rise yo’ ag’in,” retorted Gus. And so they went at each other until chips, money and collateral were gone. Mr. Williams concluded to call: ‘ What yo’ got, nigger, dat yo’ do all dat risin’ on? What yo’ got, nohow?"” Gus laid down his hand—ace, king, queen, jack and ten of clubs. “Is dat good?” he inquired, beginning to size up the pot. ‘‘ No, dat’s not good?” said Mr. Williams, reaching down in his bootleg. ‘* What yo’ got den?” queried Gus. Mr. Williams looked at him fixedly. ‘Ise jes’ got two jacks an’ a razzer."” ‘* Dat's good,” said Gus. The game then proceeded. comicbooks.com