Life, 1883-11-01 · page 3 of 16
Life — November 1, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis The top cartoon, "L'Entente Cordiale," depicts a marriage negotiation between two families. Mr. Van K(antaloupe) and Mr. Pumpkyns discuss their children's engagement, but disagree on financial arrangements. Van K insists on preserving "family pride," while Pumpkyns, lacking ancestral wealth, proposes giving cash instead—arguing money ensures the couple's future security better than pride. The satire mocks the tension between Old World aristocratic values (inherited status, family honor) and New World pragmatism (cash wealth). The French title references the Anglo-French diplomatic alliance, suggesting parallel negotiations between nations prioritizing pride versus practical interests. The lower section contains unrelated humorous poetry and a brief anecdote about discretion regarding club gossip.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
L'ENTENTE CORDIALE. Mrs. Van \Kantaloupe. Yes, 1 I CONSENT TO MY DAUGHTER'S MARRIAGE TO YOUR SON, MR. PUMPKYNS, BUT OF COURSE OUR FAMILY PRIDE——WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW——OUR FAMILY PRIDE—— Mr. Pumphkyns. UNQUOTABLE IN THE MARKET, MADAM. MY SON HASN'T ANY FAMILY PRIDE BE- CAUSE HE HASN'T ANY FAMILY, BUT HE Aas GOT FOURTEEN HUNDRED THOUSAND, cash, AND ME TO BACK HIM UP. Mrs. Van K. But THE FUTURE——POSTERITY, Mr. PuMPKYNS—— Mr. P. PosTERITY, MADAM, IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR US TO ASSUME, WOULD RATHER HAVE THE CASH THAN THE PRIDE. GIVE THEM THE CASH AND THEY 'LL GET THE PRIDE FAST ENOUGH, Is IT A GO? [4 “go” it was.] RONDEAU. IN THE TELEPHONE CLOSET. ELLO! Hello! My darling Nell, I know your touch upon the bell; It thrilled, as often does my heart, When you, your loving glances dart. Ican’thear, dearest. Louder! Yell/ Speak slower, loved one, you must spell, For what you say, I cannot tell, We are so very far apart— Hello! Hello! I'm at the office, and must sell— What do you say? To go to—well? Good gracious! Tell me whom thou art? “Shut up, young feller, and depart ! I want the druggist—calomel !” Hello! Hello! H. L. SaTTerer. “Rosinson,” said a friend to him at the club, “ you remember, of course, that what I told you yester- day is strictly confidential, 1 saw it in this week's House Journal, but please don’t mention it to a soul, as I would n’t have the report circulated for anything in the world.” comicbooks.com