Life, 1883-11-29 · page 5 of 16
Life — November 29, 1883 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Politics in Art" — Life Magazine Cartoon This three-panel satirical cartoon titled "Politics in Art" depicts a man and child in three scenarios: "The Opposing Party," "The Argument," and "Victory." The joke appears to be a commentary on political discourse and power dynamics. The progression suggests how political opponents interact—first presenting opposing views, then arguing, and finally one side "winning" (shown by the man appearing triumphant or dominant over the child figure). The satire likely mocks how adults conduct politics, comparing serious political conflict to a parent-child dynamic. By showing an adult arguing with a small child across three panels, Life ridicules the nature of political debate itself—suggesting politicians behave childishly or that political "victory" is as meaningless as winning an argument with a child. The specific political context remains unclear without additional historical information.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> LIFE: POLITICS IN ART. THE ARGUMENT. “ Firstly, because of the intrinsic value of my pro- duction ; and secondly, as a moral lesson to other edi- tors who cannot see—" “A joke?” “Precisely, my adored spouse, and furthermore—" “ Papapamapapamama—bot'l — bot'l — bot'l,” says little Edith, and the discussion ends. MORALS, 1. Always enclose postage for return of your MS. to cover the event of an unappreciative editor's desire to file the child of your brain—in the rapacious waste- basket. 2. Nil desperandum. (See Latin Dictionary.) Ferp. C. VALENTINE. E have received from Messrs. T.B. Peterson & Bros. of the City of Brotherly Love, a small olive-green volume entitled “Two Kisses,” by Mr. Hawley Smart. Not knowing Mr. Smart personally, we are not pre- pared to state how two kisses from him would be re- ceived by the public at large; our own impressions— despite the fact that Mr. Smart announces this to be his chef d'euvre—are that it would have been better for the world in general, and the author in particular, had “Two Kisses” like those of which Oscar Wilde loved to sing, been left unkissed. There is nothing worthy of remark in the volume other than that the villain has an “avid eye,” and the paper on which the type has been dropped is in color a cross between a shrimp pink and a shad rose, If Mr. Smart would turn his quill into other fields, he might do better, and we tremble to think what suc- cess would be his should he ruthlessly loosen on an unsuspecting public a story about “Three of a Kind,” or “ Four Aces; or, the Romance of a Royal Flush.” FIRST AID TO THE INJURED. Lecture V.—Burns. I TURN the hose on him. * 2, If the cuticular integument* be not broken, make a mixture of sweet oil, vaseline, molasses, and soft soap, and bathe the affected part with a cloth dipped in the mixture. 3. If the cuticular integument be broken, make a mixture of alcohol, rum, oxalic acid, and Cheyenne pepper, and squirt the affected part with it by means of a syringe. 4. It should be noticed that the proportions in which these liquids are mixed makes no difference. No doc- tor who really loves his profession ever descends to such trifles. 5. Bind a tourniquet about the part affected. Of course every one knows what that is. 6. Read to him Mr. Amold’s essay on “ Numbers ” to serve as an anesthetic. 7. If he have nothing of value about him, leave your card in his pocket after he is anzsthetized, that he may have the satisfaction of knowing who his benefactor is. J.J. J. © Slang for skin. comicbooks.com