Life, 1885-09-17 · page 12 of 16
Life — September 17, 1885 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This *Life* magazine page contains three distinct pieces of satire: **"IMPARTIAL" cartoon (top):** A French marquis proposes to an elderly gentleman's daughter, using flowery compliments. When asked which daughter he means, the marquis indifferently replies "it's all the same to me" (in French). The satire mocks fortune-hunting suitors who care nothing for the actual woman—only her wealth or status. **Racing narrative (middle):** References a yacht race between *Genesta* and *Puritan*, with humorous "dispatches" sent via carrier pigeons. This appears to be reporting on an actual 1885 America's Cup competition with comic embellishment. **"Only a Slight Unpleasantness" (bottom):** A brief joke about a Dakota church where parishioners threaten to shoot the minister unless he speaks louder—satire on frontier roughness and the challenge of imposing civilization in remote areas. The page overall reflects *Life*'s style: social commentary through exaggeration and absurdist humor targeting class pretension, sports obsession, and regional American character.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IMPARTIAL. M.le Marquis de Rien de Tout: SIR, SHE IS ZO CHARMING, HAS WON MY HEART. SHE— Old Boodles M. le Marquis I HAVE ZE HONOR TO ASK OF YOU ZE HAND OF YOUR DAUGHTER. I-FIND HER ALL ZAT ZERE IS OF ZE BEST IN FACE, IN FORM, IN CHARACTERE; SHE Ou, WHICH OF MY DAUGHTERS DO YOU MEAN, SIR? OH, MONSIEUR, C’LA M'EST EGAL. man he declined to take a cup by a walk-over. Of course the walking would have been bad, but the genial Bart must be credited for the best of intentions. So ended the second failure, The starting point and con- testing vessels were so badly damaged that the third trial was postponed until to-day. We have placed carrier pigeons upon both vessels, however, and the latest news will be found in our Postscript. nt POSTSCRIPT. 5 P.M. SEPT. 11. A message has just been received from Mrs. Maloney, of New Haven, Connecticut, stating that two of LiFe’s carrier pigeons had been caught on her roof bearing the following messages : 3P.M. On board Puritan. We'reyabout five miles ahead of CAPTAIN CROCKER. Genesta out of sight. her. Sure to win. Genesta, off the Hook. God save the Queen. SuTTON. Puritan nowhere at 3 P. M. You pays your money and takes your choice. J. K. Bangs. ONLY A SLIGHT UNPLEASANTNESS. “cc wer was the trouble at church this morning?” enquired one Dakota citizen of another. “I un- derstand there was a row.” “Oh, it didn't amount to anything, Some of the members in the back pews threatened to shoot the minister unless he spoke louder. That was all.” THE play that scored the longest run during the summer season—Base-ball. comicbooks.com