Life, 1885-07-30 · page 4 of 16
Life — July 30, 1885 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 60: Late 19th Century Political Satire This page contains several brief satirical items typical of *Life* magazine's format. **"A Lesson in Pronunciation"** is a humorous poem mocking British pronunciation and journalistic conventions, particularly targeting the *Leadville Gazette* and debates over how to pronounce place names like "Pall Mall." The right column includes political commentary: a jab at John Roach's failed business ventures, speculation about Mrs. Hayes as a presidential candidate in '88, and a quip about the *Dolphin* magazine's race suicide commentary. **"Pictorial Shakespeare"** features a caricature (likely of a contemporary figure, though unclear who specifically) alongside a Henry IV quote, suggesting commentary on current events through Shakespearean comparison. The page's tone is typical of *Life*'s irreverent, gossipy approach to politics and society during the Gilded Age.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A LESSON IN PRONUNCIATION. T was in the pleasant sanctum Of the Leadville Gazetteer, There sat the Sport and Scissors man And a hardy British Peer. The man that writes the items Devoted to the race,’ Requested of the Scissors man That he should “ not’ deface The coliums of that English sheet That's lately got the call On them ‘ere British ‘ristocrats That live about Pawl Mawl.” The Scissors man he laughed aloud, And said (sarcastical) : “Tt ain't Pawl Mawl, old sporty, you Must git it straight—Pal Mal!” And then the man who'd just come o'er The briny deep, said, “ Well, You are strong on orthcepism ; Hit 's called to ‘ome Pell-Mell.” “ Well, let it be,” quoth Sporty, then, “ Pawl-Mell or t’ other caper, Th’ orthepism in this. here shop Is gimme that ‘ere paper, “Or thar ‘Il be blood on the moon!” . . . ONTRIBUTOR: All jokes referring to Miss Cleve+ land's book as showing evidence of Rose culture, or denying the claim of the Pai’ Mall Gazette the right to be considered one of the Prints of! Wales, may be sent to the waste-basket direct. . . . OVERNOR HOADLY generally manages to have a foot in every pie. . . . E hear that the freedom/of the City of London has been presented to one of the Royal Princes. It would seem as if the Londoners should by this time know that there might be less scandal if the Princes were occasionally presented with the confinement of the city. lB HIS is the time of year when the weary citizen enjoys his dolce far niente-nine in the shade. OHN ROACH has failed. Wonder if John Roach would have failed four years ago had the result of the Presidential election of 1880 been different ? ‘ HE newspapers are all poking fun at Mrs. Hayes be- cause she is mentioned as a possible candidate for the Presidency in ‘88. ' Why should n’t she be? She always was a “ biger man” than Rutherford, and he coasted around in the executive chair for four years. . . . CONTEMPORARY speaks of the Dolphin issue. Cut bono? Why not let the race become extinct ? . * . PICTORIAL SHAKESPEARE. If WOULD BE ARGUMENT FOR A WEEK. —Henry IV. . * . E learn, with sorrow, that there are to be no more Indians at Niagara. May this be regarded As a covert stab at the Irish? a . * HE story that the site of Chicago was bought for a pair of boots is not surprising when we consider the size of the accepted boot in that locality. This probably gave rise to the remark that corporations have no soles, . . . SOCIETY NOTE. HE regular annual death of the Mahdi was given last week with great éc/at, comicbooks.com