Life, 1884-10-23 · page 12 of 16
Life — October 23, 1884 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This Life magazine page contains two satirical pieces: **"'Splain Dem Lettahs"** (top cartoon): A dialect-heavy political sketch mocking African American voters. Mr. Williams, a Black Republican, demands to understand mysterious "letters" before discussing politics with Rev. Smith. The satire targets both Black voters portrayed as easily manipulated and the Republican Party's declining relevance ("the gran' ole pawty"). References to Blaine and Logan (Republican leaders) and the "Plumed Knights" (James Garfield supporters) suggest this dates to the 1880s era. The crude dialect reflects the racist caricature conventions of the era. **"The Fox and the Watch-Dog"** (bottom): A fable about deception. A cunning fox exploits a watch-dog's vanity—the dog wears only a fob (chain ornament) without an actual watch, claiming it's undergoing repairs. The fox easily cons him into accepting ten cents for it. The moral warns against embellishing lies; simple falsehoods are more credible than elaborate ones. Both pieces use humor to critique perceived foolishness and dishonesty in their respective subjects.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
236 "'SPLAIN DEM LETTAHS. “Jess wait ‘Il [tole yo how he 's gwine ter run de forren policy "—began Mr. WILLIAMS again. “'Splain dem lettahs. “Can yo’ hole on twell I tole yo’ ‘bout free trade ‘n de—" “Give us de Mulligin fust,” SmirH., Mr. WILLIA “ De gran’ old pawty rose impressively. “De " ole pawty,” he said, “ hez hed a streak ob luck eye was now wild. “he began. The Rev. Mr. SMITH for twenty yars, 'n now hit's drawin’ to de wrong par in de | lass jacker. Toor, wen a man’s drunk 'n dodgin’ creditors ‘n got no business outen singing, he kin shout fer Magnetism twell daybreak ‘n hit doan’ perduce no ‘fect ‘ceptin’ on de po- lice. Wen de pawty gits too ole, hit sorter gits weak in de back ob de head. Now I 'se voted de straight Radikil tickit sence de days ob Linkin’, ‘n I shouted 'n carried lamps, 'n whooped her up fer all I was wuff. But dar wasn’t no Blaine | -nor no Logan in dat pie. No, sah. Splain dem lettahs, 'n | I ‘Il talk about de gran’ ole pawty. Splain dem lettahs ’n I ‘ll vote dis yar fo’ de debbil, ef he's sot up. Splain dem lettahs ‘n I'll jine de Plumed Knights termorrer. But doan go roun’ blowin’ "bout Free Trade 'n Fortin Policy ter mokes. De whitewash brush 'n de hash plate am all de trade dey kin look ter, ‘n fo’ ‘leven fohty fo’ am policy enuff, But splain dem id the Rev. Mr. THANKFUL | lettahs. Dat reaches wot little brain de moke am given, 'n | twell dem lettahs am splained, wot kin yo’ do? Gwuffum hyar, Toor, 'n soak yo'sef sober.” Mr. WILLIAMS went home. THE FOX AND THE WATCH-DOG. | CUNNING old Fox once met a little Watch-dog with | an enormous block on and asked him : “ What is that you have fastened to your neck ?” That 's my watch-fob.” ‘our watch fob! Do you wear a watch?” “Yes; that's the reason they call me the watch-dog.”” | Where is your watch ?” “ At the jeweler’s undergoing repairs.” “ What will you take for your watch-fob ?” * Ten dollars.” “T'll give you ten cents for it. | “Well, pull out the money.” “Ah, well,” said the Fox, as he trotted off, “ if you ‘ll take ten cents for it, | would n't have it for a Christmas gift.” Moral: Don’t overload a plain, every day lie with em- | broidery and flourishes. WHITE lies—pillow shams. comichooks.caqm