Life, 1884-07-10 · page 12 of 16
Life — July 10, 1884 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Puzzle Page Analysis This is Life's inaugural "Puzzle Department," offering $2.74 prizes for correct answers—a modest but notable incentive for the era. The cartoons (from German publication Fliegende Blätter) show people hiding in large barrels, illustrating the "hidden cities" puzzle concept. The puzzles themselves are heavily political, referencing the 1884 Chicago Convention and prominent Republican figures: - **Puzzle I** asks which five statesmen are "buried" in "Chicago Convention"—likely referring to delegates or candidates from that recent convention. - **Puzzle III's enigma** is a self-referential riddle from a mysterious speaker who: was present at Chicago, was a Speaker (of the House), wrote a book, knows famous figures, and has Peruvian connections. The clues suggest **James G. Blaine**, the 1884 Republican nominee. - **Puzzle IV** directly asks readers to predict whether Blaine or Chester Arthur has better presidential prospects—topical political speculation. The page uses wordplay and coded references to engage readers in contemporary political discourse while providing entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- REVENGE IS SWEET. OUR PUZZLE DEPARTMENT. (From Fliegende Blitter.) N opening this department we are actuated by a desire to offer a field for promoting intelligent thought on the Ii. Ye uf YY, part of our younger readers, and in order to hold out the “nil of, : Wf greatest possible attractions shall publish every week a prize * | conundrum, and shall present to the correct guesser of the answer the munificent sum of $2.74. To a genius of fertility here is a chance to obtain a steady income ! Answers must be neatly written on legal cap, on one side of the sheet only, and must be handed in on or before a week ago the Monday first preceding the issuance of the conundrum. Stamps should accompany each communication, not neces- sarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. No. I. Buried Statesmen. [NoTE.—This puzzle is similar to the more familiar hidden cities. To aid the student we offer as an example the following : “ Democratic Majority.” In this there will be at least two statesmen found buried. The answer will at once be seen to be, “ James G. Blaine and John A. Logan.” With this explanatory note we have no doubt the first of our de- lightful series of Burials will prove what Shakespeare called a “ Kneesy one !”] Chicago Convention. What five statesmen are found buried here ? No. I. Charade, I’m colder than ice ; I’m madder than hops ; My awfullest vice : Indulgence in S. O. Ps. No. III. Enigma. I am composed of twelve letters. These, however, were not the Mulligan Letters. My 1, 2, 3 is what there was in the Chicago Convention when I was—but, stay, I must not give myself away. My 6, 2, 7 I am especially strong in. When I was Speaker of—but, as I said before, “stay !” My 6, 9, 10, 8 is the first name of the author of my book, but, for goodness’ sake, don’t say I told you. My 10, in my opinion, is the greatest man on earth. My 6, 2, 3, 4, 5 is what I’m fond of playing. If you don’t believe it, ask the Peruvians. My 7, 9, 11, 12 is what some people think I am to the Re- publican party. .Some people will lie. I’ve been there! This about does me up, and I may therefore say that My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 is a corker. No. IV. Prize Puzzle. Who has the best chance for the next Presidency, James G. Blaine or Chester A. Arthur ? comicbooks.com