Life, 1885-10-01 · page 7 of 16
Life — October 1, 1885 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page 189 from Life Magazine This page features heraldic coats of arms for two prominent American families: the Breed/Whitewash line and the Feild/Shylock line. The satirical intent appears to be genealogical mockery—the names themselves ("Whitewash," "Shylock") suggest moral or ethnic criticism thinly veiled as heraldry. The descriptive text uses elaborate language to document family histories while the chosen surnames undermine the subjects' dignity. The "Breed" entry references Civil War military service, while "Feild" discusses financial misfortune and losses. Below appears an unrelated story, "An Embarrassing Situation," about Miss Penelope Waldo and a character named Clarence regarding horses. The page demonstrates Life's use of satire through formal presentation of unflattering genealogical information.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: THE AMERICAN PEERAGE. (COMPILED BY PERK, ULTERIOR KNIGHT FOR MANHATTAN, ] Wreed. Feild. REED, WHITEWASH; Baron Inkspill, and Grand 4 EILD, SHYLOCK W., Marquis of Cablecoil. Chamberlain of St. James G. Blane. Lineage : This is from the fine old line of the first Atlan- Lineage: Lord Whitewash Breed is descended from the _ tic cable, once broken, but promptly repaired and now as good Half-Breeds, and more remotely from the Hon. Horatio aS new. The present marquis emerged from the American Greelie, of Farmingville. end in 1859. His success with the magnetic telegraph led The Lord Chamberlain himself, when in active military him long afterward to invest in the Blaine Magnetic Machine, service, was a masterly tactician, having executed the most which Proved a ruinous failure. This disaster, following rapid retreat ever known, from Shiloh to Cincinnati. By this his generous gift of the L roads to the public, and aided by manceuvre he rescued General Grant's army from destruc- _ his habitual generosity to the needy, reduced him to the dig- tion, In politics his mild and forgiving disposition has ified poverty in which he now lives, cherishing the same prevented his advancement. rooted dislike of foreign aristocracy which he has always Arms: Argent, a fret sable. In the dexter and sinister chiefs a shown. stiletto, steal-color. Arms : Argent, a water-spaniel fawning upon a boot, proper. On Crest : A clock-tower of ** British gold,” bearing aloft a flag at half- a chief, sable, three lilies of the Field. mast. Crest : A shattered monument to a British spy. Motto : “1 Suppress.” Motto: “ First in the Hearts of my Countrymen.”” Seats ; Tall Tower, New York. Seats ; Castle Delmonico, House of Lords. Clubs: Manhattan and Cobden. Clubs ; Eaters, Cabal and Anglican. All of which goes to prove that it is a dangerous thing for AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. a publishing house to omit a Great Editor from the pages of | its Cyclopedia Droch 6c LARENCE,” said Miss Penelope Waldo, a Boston eee | young woman, “didn’t I hear you say that every BOOKS RECEIVED. time you go to, the races you return home on Shank’s (Al MODEL WIFE. Novel. By G. 1. Cervus. Philadelphia: | horses?” J. B, Lippincott & Co. | You did,” said Clarence gloomily. _ Saxe Holm Stories, First and Second Series. New York: Charles |“ Well, don’t you think, Clarence,” continued Miss Pene- Scribner's Sons. 1 ietly, “since Mr. Shank i A 4 Color Studies, By Thomas A. Janvier, New York: Charles | OPO Wietly. * since Mr. Shan’ is £0. that Be would let Scribner's Sons. y 7 z i | you have his horses occasionally to take me for a drive?” Maruja, By Bret Harte. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co. | _And Clarence groaned in anguish, as he reflected how The Red Route. ANovel. By William Sime. New York: Henry | Modest and retiring Miss Waldo is and how utterly impossi- Holt & Co. | ble it would be for him to disclose the identity of Mr. Shank.