Life, 1884-07-03 · page 3 of 16
Life — July 3, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 3 **"Heraldic" Cartoon:** The illustration depicts a gentleman asking a woman named Sophia about a letter's motto "Tiens ta Foi" (French: "Keep your faith"). The joke plays on homophone confusion: "Foi" sounds like "Foie" (liver in French), so Mr. Gubbins humorously interprets the advice as "Keep your liver"—suggesting unnecessary health preoccupation. **Lower Section Content:** Below are three brief satirical pieces: "Consolation" (likely about romantic disappointment), "Boomlets" (mocking Mr. Flower's campaign song and G.O.P. politics in Chicago), and a jab at the *Trybune's* announcement about Mr. Blaine having "two pews." The page reflects early American satirical humor mixing wordplay, political mockery, and social commentary typical of Life's era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HERALDIC, Mr. Gubbins : DOES IT MEAN ? Sophia (who knows French) : YES! “FOI” MEANS “ LIVER.” Gubbins : “KEEP YOUR LIVER.” LooK HERE, SOPHIA, WHAT IS THE MOTTO ON THIS LETTER? “ TIENS TA For.” WHat “ TIENS ” MEANS “ KEEP;” “TA” IS “THY,” AND “ FOI” IS—LET 'S SEE—OH H’M! SEEMS SORT OF UNNECESSARY ADVICE, DOES N’T IT? CONSOLATION. HEN Philkins won her heart from me, My soul it much enraged ; But now, ha! ha! I am revenged— I hear they are engaged ! ‘© T is awfully complimentary, boys, and of course I accept, but if you only knew how very unsatisfactory this wind- pudding is, you would n’t blame me for just the least little lack of enthusiasm.” Benjamin F. B. * * * HE unregenerate now speak of it as a“‘ Flower bar'l,”’ to sig- nify the doughness of his cake, as it were. BOOMLETS. R. FLOWER has just sent out sample copies of his campaign song. One verse reads: The G. O. P. has got to go, ’T is money makes the mar’ go; And I’m the boy what ’s got the bar’! To run things at Chicago. & * * * HE unrighteous press are now making much merriment over the Zyyd/azne's announcement that Mr. Blaine has two pews. This is wrong. Very wrong. De Gustibus non dis-pew-tandem.