Life, 1884-07-24 · page 6 of 16
Life — July 24, 1884 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 48 The page contains political commentary sections ("Boomlets," "Science!") and a story titled "A Freak of Destiny" illustrated with a sketch of a man and young woman on a ship deck. The cartoon depicts social satire rather than explicit political caricature. The story concerns an American gentleman returning from England who becomes enamored with an Irish girl aboard a steamer. The narrative mocks his pretensions—he's adopted British mannerisms and views himself as aristocratic, yet is descending from New England Puritans. The satire targets American social climbing and affectation of European sophistication. The "Boomlets" section references various political figures and contemporary issues (mentions of Cleveland, Independents, Democrats) but lacks sufficient context for precise modern interpretation without additional historical knowledge.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
48 BOOMLETS. N article on “ The World a Thousand Years Ago” is now going the rounds of the press. It fails to state whether that organ supported Mr. Tilden at that period. . * * * ’TCHE Independents are straining every nerve to attain suc- cess next November. Even churches are offering up prayers for those at sea. * * * Se Times elegantly remarks that Butler has not yet de- cided whether he will be a “fly on the wheel” or a “jackass dancing among chickens.” In other words, the fa- vorite of the “ masses ” can’t say whether he will be a hum- mer with the Democrats or a “ kicker” among “ scratchers.” * * * HE flag on the 77yé/azne building was hung at half mast last Monday. Sorrow came over the sanctum, and the campaign poet wept bitterly. Mr. Blaine had not attended church the day before. * * * HE World in claiming the immunity of both the Demo- cratic candidates from rhymsters, is at least assailable in regard to Hendricks, who eight years ago was only known as “Thomas A. Hendricks, Sam. Tilden’s appendix.” * * * F course, Mr. Dana does not think Mr. Cleveland the best man for President. Even if Bayard were laid aside, Mr. Charles A. Dana is in the country; and if he would n’t accept, there is the editor of the Sw to fall back on. Cleveland, indeed! pshaw ! * * * HE chief objection to Mr. Cleveland seems to be that he has had no training in National legislation. On the other hand, Mr. Blaine has had a little too much. Rail- road training, so to speak. * * * HAT the Independents want is not so much one who is more available than Mr. Blaine as one who is less unveilable. SCIENCE! IEUT. GREELY is rescued. His contributions to science are incalculable, but we still feel that Dr. Tanner is ahead. What specific service the Lieutenant has rendered the scientific world no one seems to know, but he has given convincing proof that a strong will and a good stomach may enable one to subsist upon very poor food for a very long time. As long as there are men who prefer hat-bands and old boots to the conventional beefsteak, these little picnics to the Arctic regions will probably continue. ‘LIFE: A FREAK OF DESTINY. T was onthe steamer. An elderly matron sat on the deck and beside her a charming young girl, whose brown eyes were fixed pensively upon the receding shores of Ireland. Her whole presence was strikingly suggestive of cultivation and refinement, and Mr. Pinckney Hancock felt a sensation of critical approbation as he regarded her through the medium of a single eye-glass. That gentleman was returning to Boston after a five years’ stay in England, where the alacrity with which he adopted British manners and the piquancy of his repressed American- ism had rendered him a great success in society. Matrimony he had happily escaped, although at the last there was a rather serious entanglement with Lady Gwendolen Tisbrook ; and frantic cablegrams flew under the Atlantic from Mrs. Han- cock, begging him to recollect that the Tisbrook rank only dated from George 1V., and that Boston would be scandal- ized should a Hancock stoop to such an alliance. The lineal descendant of a New England Puritan owes some concessions to his family and the aristocracy at large, and Mr. Hancock realized the fact. Nobly determining to sacrifice himself, he threw over the Lady Gwendolen, to the intense astonishment of London society and the joy of Beacon Hill, and all would have gone smoothly had not the lady’s brother seen fit to take a deplorably plebeian view of the matter. He denounced Mr. Pinckney Hancock loudly in the clubs as a heartless scoun- drel, and breathed such sonorous vows of vengeance that the descendant of the Puritans, dreading a scene of vulgar emo- tion and excitement, thoughtfully engaged an immediate passage by the “ Begonia,” and was soon on the way to his native land. Now he became suddenly and desperately enamored of the beautiful girl whom he had observed upon the deck. ‘He prided himself upon his skill in discerning a really patrician face in the motley throng of Americans which makes ocean travel so trying to finer ser®ilities ; and he felt, too, instinc- tively, that she was, like’ “self, the offspring of River- mouth Puritans. pee “Jove!” he said to ‘hii! with a languid British drawl. comicbooks.com