Life, 1884-10-16 · page 9 of 12
Life — October 16, 1884 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Nip and Tuck" / "A Political Meeting" The top illustration depicts a homeless or impoverished person in a shell-like shelter with a dog, titled "Nip and Tuck"—likely a period expression meaning "close" or "evenly matched," here satirizing the struggle for survival. The bottom article mocks an "Equal Rights Party" campaign meeting at Harmony Hall. The satire centers on internal disputes over the uniform and platform—members argued about whether to wear plumes, white sashes, or trousers, and debated costume details like Irish symbols. The piece ridicules the organization's inability to agree on basic principles, suggesting the party prioritizes appearance and symbolic gestures over substantive political action. The deadlock over such trivial matters implies the group is ineffectual and disorganized.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NIP AND TUCK. A POLITICAL MEETING. OTICE. All persons interested in the success of the ights Pe id the elevatic Belvah | Equal Rights Party and the elevation of Belva | ras'iosk. Lockwood to the presidency are invited to meet at Harmony Hall, on the Fifteenth instant at steen minutes past umph o'clock, for the formation of a campaign club, and the discussion of other matters relating to the presidential struggle. Pursuant to the above notice, a distinguished assemblage of representative females met at Harmony Hall for the pur- pose stated; Dr. Mary Walker in the chair. After the opening ceremonies had taken place, the chair woman stated that the formation of a campaign club for arousing popular enthusiasm in favor of the People’s Choice, Belvah Lock- wood (cheers) was an imperative necessity and the only thing that remained to be done was the selection of an appropriate uniform and the election of the necessary officers. In regard to a uniform, Miss Anna Dickinson suggested red hats, white jerseys and blue skirts; but Dr. Mary Walker | insisted that the proper apparel for street marching would be trouserloons. To this suggestion there were marked signs of disapproval. Miss Ella Wheeler Wilcox moved that plumes of crushed strawberry be added to the hats, but Elizabeth | Cady Stanton objected on the ground that anything crushed would be inconsistent with their principles and the motion Nothing abashed, Mrs. Wilcox moved that old-gold sashes should be worn, but Miss Stanton again objected on the ground that an expression of choice in regard to specie might cost them some greenback votes. This motion was also lost. Miss Mulcahey arose and said, “ There was ividently a tin- | dency to run things on the know-nothin’ policy with their | rid, white and blue gowns and that unless some signs of ‘ould Ireland’ was brought into the costum’ the Irish vote could not be counted upon.” At this there was great con- sternation, and it was immediately agreed that green fichus should be added to the costume. The cardinal principles of the party, equal rights, was never better exemplified than it was when the officers of the Lockwood Legion were voted for. Of the fourteen females present, each woman received one vote. It was rumored very strongly that each individual voted for herself. After a considerable deadlock, Mrs. Tom- | ri-John, on account of her military bearing, was nominated by acclamation, for the position of colonel. The next question before the meeting was the policy to b-