Life, 1885-06-04 · page 1 of 16
Life — June 4, 1885 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, June 4, 1885 This page features a satirical cartoon titled "International" about a French maid named Louise. The caption indicates she receives higher wages due to her French nationality, prompting a sarcastic comment: "Faith, that must be French she's a-talkin', I'm done fur, Shoor." The humor targets xenophobic workplace discrimination—specifically, the preference for French domestic servants in wealthy American households during the 1880s. The joke appears to mock both the snobbish employers who paid premium wages for French staff and the Irish servant's frustration at being undervalued by comparison. The illustrated woman at her toilette embodies the fashionable French maid stereotype that made such positions coveted. This reflects Gilded Age tensions between immigrant groups competing for domestic service positions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW YORK, JUNE 4, 188s. Entered at New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter, oJAAITewene INTERNATIONAL. Mrs. L.: LOUISE, DONNEZ-MOI UN VERRE D'EAU. Louise (the new French maid, who receives higher wages on account of her nationality) : FAITH, THAT MUST BE FRINCH SHE'S A-TALKIN’; 1'M DONE FUR, SHOOR.