Life, 1884-07-31 · page 7 of 16
Life — July 31, 1884 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Merry Huntsman" - Life Magazine Satire The cartoon depicts **A. Fresh Verbey** having an unpleasant riding experience—his horse is bucking or rearing wildly while he attempts to control it. The caption states he "does not find such unallayed pleasure in the hunt as he anticipated when he ordered his new riding suit." This is a straightforward visual joke: despite acquiring fashionable hunting attire, Verbey cannot manage his horse, suggesting the clothes don't make the rider. The satire mocks someone investing in proper appearance for a sporting activity while lacking actual competence or control—a commentary on superficial status-seeking over genuine skill. The accompanying text items are brief social observations unrelated to the main cartoon.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“THE MERRY HUNTSMAN.” Mr. A. FRESH VERREY DOES NOT FIND SUCH UNALLOYED PLEASURE IN THE HUNT AS HE ANTICIPATED WHEN HE ORDERED HIS NEW RIDING SUIT. Col. Codman, Mr. Higginson, President Seelye and others whose utterences cannot fail to carry conviction with them, made exceptionally fine speeches, which dealt severely with the Plumed Knight, at the close of which, the hall having be- | come too crowded for comfort, the vice presidents were in- vited upon the stage. This practically eliminated the audience as all were serving in that capacity, and the meeting adjourned until the afternoon when Governor Cleveland was heartily indorsed previous to szze de adjournment. The strength of the meeting convinces me that unless the Republican revolt is offset by asimilar one onthe part of such “Dudes and Purists” as Ben. Butler and John Kelly, Cleve- land will be the next President, if he carries the country and defeats Blaine. You may regard this as certain. CARLYLE SMITH. ALTHOUGH girls may be nautically ignorant, they all know how to keep taut the beau-line. Bab form—reform (at present). NEAR SIGHTED, THAT’S ALL. EE the porpoise,” said Charley Griggs to his mother, as they sat on the beach at Seabright. “ Where ?” asked the old lady, looking around wildly at the bath-houses. “Why, in the water,” he replied, and pointed to a school of them playing leap-frog just beyond the breakers. The old lady shook the sand out of her spectacle-case, preparatory to adjusting her glasses. “ Paupers,” she said. “Oh, to be sure. There they are in bathing. Sent down by the ‘Fresh Air Fund,’ I s’pose. Ain’t that just lovely. How the poor creatures must enjoy it, after the heat of the tenement-houses. Dear me, ain't that nice!” CARLSBAD. A COUNTER-IRRITANT—the fair shopper that loooks at everything, takes samples, and says that she 'Il come in again, maybe ! FAVORABLE WEATHER FOR HAY-MAKING—when it rains pitchforks.