Life, 1885-08-13 · page 4 of 16
Life — August 13, 1885 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical commentary rather than political cartoons. The "Pictorial Shakespeare" illustration depicts a scene from *Hamlet* with period costume detail—likely a contemporary theatrical production reference. The text snippets mock various subjects: Concord philosophers ("The Whiteness of the What"), Lord Tennyson's missed opportunity with a poem about Princess Beatrice, and contemporary news items (Mr. Gladstone's yachting, Civil War rumors). One joke references tenor pricing ("Is $50,000 high for a tenor?"), and another mocks Mr. Squire's "verses" as being "written in water-meter"—a pun on Keats's epitaph. The humor relies on recognizing contemporary figures (Gladstone, Tennyson) and events familiar to 19th-century readers. Without that context, most references remain opaque to modern audiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE CONCORD PHILOSOPHERS. T Concord the Philosophers Have very nearly got Down to the very essence of The Whichness of the What. They ‘ve tried to make it plain to us That what they all do n't know Is hardly worth a tosséd cent To find out. Yet ‘tis so That none of them, who worship and Dub Emerson a saint, Can clarify the clouds about The Notness of the Aint. . . HE popular sang among the admirers of the Century Magazine just now is “Oh, Aint You Warful.” . . . T HE Post devotes considerable attention to “ Fly-Fishing in Canada.” Well, they have some very fly fishes there of the Marine Bank variety. . . . T HE “Fast Freight Agents” have just held a convention in Montreal. This is very significant. R. GLADSTONE has gone off on a yachting expedi- tion. It is rumored that he has declined offers of a steerage. * . * W E are surprised that Lord Tennyson should have overlooked the glorious opportunity afforded by his poem to the Princess Beatrice and her husband. His two yous would have scored a bull's-eye if used there. . * . ES, Henry, “Scoots and Skedadles" would be a very funny name for a parody on Mrs. Custer’s book, “Boots and Saddles.” Almost as funny as such a parody would be in bad taste. . . . ST HERE are several Rotten Rows in England just now. . . . HE question is asked, “Is $50,000 high for a tenor?” Well, rather. High C for a tenor is considered ele- vated, and C is only $100 note. CORRESPONDENT is informed that Sullivan's favor- ite colors are black and blue. . . * THEATRICAL item announces that Madame Mod- jeska has secured a jeune premter from England. Is Lord Churchill going on the stage ? . . . (CONSIDERABLE, excitement was caused in the 7rébune office last week when a rumor reached the editorial rooms that the Civil War was over. . . * PICTORIAL SHAKESPEARE. ‘TIS NOT ALONE MY INKY CLOAK GOOD MOTHER. ke —Hamlet, * . . IEL has been found guilty of Rebellion in the first degree and sentenced to be hanged. His English subordinates have been adjudged insane. Riel was “ Not English, but Frenchy, you know.” . . * WE regret to learn that Mr. J. D. Fish does not go to dinner in the regular lock step. Are the authorities afraid to trust him with the combina- tion ? . . . T is not surprising that the rains of last week did not ob- literate Mr. Squire's alleged verses. They are evidently written in water-meter. comicbooks.com