Life, 1885-01-22 · page 11 of 16
Life — January 22, 1885 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Combination No. 4" Explanation This is a satirical piece about the 1884-85 Sudan Campaign during the Mahdist War. The left cartoon shows a cop (police/authority), the right shows chaotic violence labeled "Combination"—likely depicting the messy military situation. The text mocks British military efforts to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum, trapped by forces under the Mahdi. The satire centers on absurd solutions: Gordon supposedly pacifies local tribes by distributing Swiss false teeth, then requests 10,000 more sets as if they're weapons. Prime Minister Gladstone issues a national appeal for teeth donations. The final section parodies diplomatic correspondence between French Foreign Minister Ferry and British Earl Granville, written in comically broken pseudo-French and English, reducing serious Egyptian/colonial disputes to nonsensical banter. The joke: presenting military strategy and diplomacy as equally ridiculous—false teeth as currency, teeth as military supplies, and incomprehensible diplomatic notes equally "settling" the Egyptian question.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
COMBINATION. No. 4. FROM FOREIGN FIELDS. ONDON, JANUARY 14TH.—Lord Wolseley has tele- graphed Colonel Wales that he intends to get to Khartoum in time to send a valentine to Mrs. Mahdi on the 14th of February if it costs him a syllable of his name. There | is considerable suffering among the troops, many of whom were picked too soon, while the officers complain bitterly of the quality of the food, all the sweet-breads and French peas having been exhausted before they reached Whackhim. Osman Digpa and Mahdi have combined their forces, and Barber is in a state of siege. Lord Gordon, who is at Barber, had a close shave in his contest with Bey Rhumme at Dolla- Halfa; but scouts and deserters who have reached Wolseley’s | camp bring news that the Poles resident in the town have | joined the English cause, and little apprehension is felt. A detachment of Gordon's men are at Shindy, but cannot get out. The Mahdi’s force at Metookati is 2,000 strong, with the opposing English about 10,000 weak — terrible odds against the visiting troops. The latest from Gordon states that the formerly hostile tribe of Gondolas has been conciliated by a gift of a set of full-jewelled false teeth, of Swiss movement, in a gold hunting case, to the Ding, who wears them on state occas- ions. Gordon has telegraphed for ten thousand sets of teeth with which to carry on the campaign, and states that if he can only get them Englisn supremacy is assured. Mr. Gladstone has issued a call to the loyal subjects of England for the teeth necessary to rescue Gordon from the jaws of fate, and they are coming in in flattering quantities. M. Ferry has addressed the following note to Earl Gran- ville: Paris, Fan. 14th, 1885. MON CHER A BONHEUR: It arrives to be that no loan should have been that it was for Egypt. The warrant altogether at one time to the Powerfuls is to be of én effet that it should thus have been. Veritably the yours, FERRY, Ministre, To which Earl Granville replied : Londres, Fan. 16,'85. CHER FERRY: Votre note 4 moi a ete arrivé le derniere soir. Qu’ est ce que vous me donné? Goofe? Je ne puis me gettez sur votre rackette! Venez un autre fois. La votre, E. GRANVI This, it is believed, virtually settles the Egyptian question, for M. Ferry announces his eminent satisfaction with the terms offered in Earl Granville’s letter. comicbooks.com