Life — April 30, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This appears to be a satirical cartoon from *Life* magazine featuring a man being chased or confronted by a large bear. The caption reads "HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST" with dialogue attribution to "Gladstone," "The Bear," and "D'Israeli's Ghost." The cartoon likely references 19th-century British political rivalry between William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli (D'Israeli), with "The Bear" probably representing Russia—a major geopolitical concern of that era. The satire suggests one political figure getting the last laugh over another regarding British-Russian relations or imperial competition. The ghostly reference to Disraeli implies commentary on his legacy or policies continuing to influence contemporary politics. Without the magazine's date, precise historical context remains unclear.