Life, 1884-08-21 · page 4 of 16
Life — August 21, 1884 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 102 This page contains political satire and humor columns rather than a single unified cartoon. The **"Boomlets"** section mocks political incompetence: the Blainists (supporters of James G. Blaine) are criticized for spreading false rumors; The *Tribune* is accused of mislabeling opinion as news; and there's mockery of French diplomatic weakness regarding colonial disputes. The **main illustration** shows a ferryboat conversation where passengers debate whether God created Butler (likely General Benjamin Butler, a controversial political figure). The joke ridicules Butler's prominent role in politics through absurdist theological questioning. **"Finis Coronat Opus"** celebrates actress Mary Anderson's success in London theater, comparing her favorably to Henry Ward Beecher and claiming American cultural distinction. The satire targets 1880s political figures and media credibility through humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
102 BOOMLETS. HE Blainists can howl as muchas they please to the con- | trary, but they zou/d wave the bloody Schurz if they could. * * * I ‘HE 7ryblaine should gather all its political news into | one corner and label it the HIC JACET DEPARTMENT, | ze. Here: Lies. * * HEN the Marquis Tseng announced that he would n’t | give in to France if it cost a lung, we were at a loss to understand his Hoki-Pokiness’s meaning. But when the French took Ke-lung, all was clear. In this connection it may be well to state that the eminent “ Laundler ” Wun Lung has quite recovered from the blow to his native town, and is now ready to “resleeve ordlers for washee shlirts !”"—Adv. * * * HAT kind of official would Butler make? Well, to strain a point, we should say very Benny-ficial. A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD ON A FERRYBOAT. Bessie: Hortense: UN PR Bessie: Did GOD M:! Hortense: MAts, OUI. ‘LIFE: | ‘A FACT. | 6 ULLIGAN LETTERS ?”-said the Blainist in reply to a“ Dude and Pharisee.” “Why, young man, I don’t know anything about the Mulligan letters. I make | it a rule to believe only half that I see, one quarter that I hear and zothing that I read!” “How’s that ?” “I take the Zrébune.” And there was light ! * 6¢TS it youse oi see, Patsy “Yis it’s me, Barney.” | 2 Howz polutuks ?” « Foine!” “ Killy in foightin’ condition ?” “ Proime !” “ Whose his man for Mayor?” “ Donahue!” “No more do oi, bedad. Ah! Killy’s a wily man. Gud- day to yez. Whurroo for Buthler!” FINIS CORONAT OPUS. ISS MARY ANDERSON, our own and only Mary—bright particular star of the footlights, and queen by divine right of the tragic stage, pride of the eye and joy of Doc. Ham Griffin's life and adventures— has at last arrived at the distinction of a“ Pear Soap” cut, prominently published (not quite so large as life but just as natural) in the advertising columns of the London papers. This distinguished honor has been con- | ferred previously on but one other American professional beauty—the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher! With Miss Anderson as a com- panion picture, what a vista of national glory | and grandeur unfolds itself to the native American eye! Verily our cup of individual blessing is well nigh full to overflowing. All | hands round, therefore, and let our united voices echo— | “Gaudeamus igitur, Fuvenes dum sumus!” TIGER—Hip, hip, hip, hip, (h) ipecacuanha ! > A TIGHT fit—the jim-jams. / Way of the whirled—Patronize the ele- vated railway and learn. THE Washington 7?mes, having changed its name to Standard, will hereafter be edited by Judge Nott—on the possible theory Bessie: WELL, | do HOPE HE WON'T MAKE ANY MORE! of “lest ye be judged.” comicbooks.com