Life, 1885-01-01 · page 2 of 16
Life — January 1, 1885 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, January 1, 1885 The masthead illustration shows a skeletal Death figure operating a printing press, symbolizing the magazine's satirical power to critique society. The editorial content criticizes American materialism and cultural pretension. The text mocks wealthy Americans who spend excessively on "stand up" drinking in bars while claiming cultural superiority, and attacks the obsession with "material prosperity" over moral development. The piece particularly targets the vanity of American industrialists and wealthy citizens who, despite their financial success, lack genuine artistic or intellectual accomplishment compared to European culture. The satire suggests Americans shamefully imitate foreign refinement while their own young people grow up valuing only money, not ethics or learning. This reflects Gilded Age anxiety about rapid industrialization, immigration, and whether American society was becoming morally corrupt through unchecked capitalism.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL. V. NO. 105. 1155 BROADWAY, New York. Published every Thursday, $5 a year in advance, postage free. Single copies, 10 cents. Back numbers can be had by applying to this office. Vol. I., 50 cents per copy ; Vols. II, and III. at regular rates. Rejected contributions will not be returned unless accompanicd by a stamped and directed envelope. | Hundred and Eighty-five, Sir Cynic, finds us still alive. An infant, who, it should be noted, Did kick and scream, and likewise voted, When two years old. From now till 18-86, We hope to practice all such tricks As friend and foe alike expect, With all the usual effect, They say untold. We smite the foolish, shame the sham, Beard the lion, brace the lamb, Hit the highest, raise the low, And on our way rejoicing go, Not knowing fear. So, having made our little bow, We seck the future, leave the now, And hope our twelvemonth numb’ring “three,” May bring to one and all of ye A Happy year. . . . OW, that we, as a nation, are about to launch into a new year, let us pause and endeavor to realize the extent of our own greatness. We Americans must do our own congratulating, as the rest of the world seem a little inclined to laugh at us. But, why should they? We make, lose, and spend more money in a year than any other country in the world. Of course we are | not a literary people, for we have no time for that sort of thing. Science is slow, and there is no money in it. Art, we can never excel in as we lack the artistic sense. All our music is borrowed or stolen, but therein we are just as “ smart" as if we originated something ourselves. In short, we are an ex- traordinarily superior people, and if we leave out literature, science, painting, music, and all the other kindred arts, and | do not lay too much stress upon our financial honor, there is | nota particle of doubt of our immeasurable superiority over | those who are immeasurably our inferiors, | Well may the eagle scream ! HAT could be more exhilarating than our application of our own laws? Canada is literally swarming with American defaulters, only waiting until they may re- turn with impunity to resume their positions in our midst. The same positions? No, very different positions, for when they return they will have plenty of money. . . * HAT a jolly old farce our Sunday-schools and our “home influence” must appear to the rising gen- eration with such luminaries as Ferdinand Ward, John C. Eno, and a hundred others, not only unpunished, but living upon the fat of the land, with a rich old age before them! What a thrill of horror runs through the community when we hear of an embezzlement! How surprised we are! And how long it takes us to forget it! All this is hopeful. Our young men growing up in such a glorious atmosphere of moral sensitiveness can not fail to develop into useful, quiet and unostentatious citizens, taking much pride in their mental accomplishments but inclined to ignore the value of money—and there are those who accuse us of vulgarity ! . . . UR bar rooms are the finest in the world. We spend more money in “stand up” drinking than the whole of Europe put together. This is true grit and speaks vol- umes for our future. . . UT our boast, our pride, the apple of our cye is our “material prosperity.” It is in the practical side of life that we excel. Ah! there indeed are we strong! Of course our buildings fall down, rather oftener than is pleasant, and burn up with a rapidity which frequently entails an un- desirable loss of human life. Also are our steamboats, etc., a trifle erratic in their habits, but the very causes which pro- duce these unfortunate results mean wealth and prosperity to the enterprising contractors, . . * UR progress in manufactures is simply startling. To be sure, the best of everything is imported, and no one who can afford it thinks of purchasing the American article. That, however, is a trifle which plenty of time and a radical change in our national character will be sure to remedy. . * . ERSONALLY we are all that can be desired. Our rich complexion, soft, mellow voices and exquisite manners, have long since made us the envy of the civilized world. Many of those Americans who reside abroad for any length of time, take little pride in their nationality, and seem ashamed of their own countrymen, but this, we have decided, is their fault, not ours. comicbooks.com