Life — August 7, 1884 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This page shows satirical sketches about horses and horsemanship, labeled as "School of the Hunter" and "School of the Trotter." The cartoons mock equestrian training methods and horse breeding standards of the era. The top panels ridicule "the System of Preparation"—showing exaggerated, awkward horse training techniques. The bottom illustration, credited to W.A. Shelton, depicts "A Solid Citizen" (labeled "The Horse Republic All 8,000") positioned on a cart, sarcastically presenting an ordinary horse as an exemplary citizen. The overall satire appears to critique both pretentious horse-breeding culture and possibly political absurdity—treating horses as serious civic subjects. The "Republic" reference suggests mockery of democratic institutions or civic pride being applied to trivial matters like horse shows.