Life, 1885-10-22 · page 13 of 16
Life — October 22, 1885 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Commentary on Life Magazine Page 237 ## Main Cartoon: "Scissors at Nulls" This comic dialogue satirizes marital discord through the lens of a trivial international incident. When Tommy Seasonby asks his father how nations go to war, both parents immediately contradict each other about whether Germany and Spain nearly clashed over a fallen German flag. Their heated argument—escalating to threats of rolling pins and canes—perfectly illustrates the cartoonist's point: couples bicker over the *reason* for conflict without resolving the underlying disagreement, just as nations do. The humor relies on the parallel between domestic and international conflict, suggesting both involve ego and stubbornness rather than rational cause-and-effect. ## Secondary Item: Bill Nye on Lecturing Humorist Bill Nye promotes an upcoming English lecture tour by ironically describing his act: discussing lynching ("Jerked Across the Jordan") while wearing different costumes each night and employing ushers to shoo away flies from sleeping audience members. The satire mocks popular lecture culture—suggesting his content is deliberately absurd and audiences largely indifferent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: FEISORS AT WLS se para: how do nations get into. war with each other?” asked Tommy Seasonby. “Sometimes one way, sometimes another,” said the father. ‘Now, there are Germany and Spain ; they came near getting into war because a Spanish mob took down the German flag.” “No, my dear,” put in Mrs. Seasonby, ‘that wasn’t the reason.” “ But, my darling,” said Mr. S.,‘‘ do n't you suppose I know ? You are mistaken. That was the reason,” “*No, dearie, you are mistaken, It was because the Ger- mans——" “Mrs, Seasonby, I say it was because—" “ Peleg, you know better. You are only trying to——" “ Madam, I don't understand that your opinion was asked in this matter, anyway,” ‘Well, I don’t want my boy instructed by an old ignoramus,”” ‘* See here, you impudent——" “Pat down your cane, you old brute. Don't you dare bristle up to me, or I'll send this rolling-pin at your head, you old—' “Never mind,” interrupted Tommy, “I guess I know how wars begin." —Chicago News. A SINGULAR accident is reported from Wisconsin. Mrs, John- son, of Eau Claire, dropped a lamp in her parlor last week. 237 There was no explosion, neither was she injured in the least, The lamp was not,lighted.—New York Graphic. BILL NYE ON LECTURING, Tuovcu Ihave been supplicated for some time by the people of England to come over there and thrill them with my eloquence, my thriller has been out of order lately, so that I did not dare venture abroad, Having at last yielded to the entreaties of Great Britain, I have decided to make a professional farewell tour of England with my new and thrilling lecture entitled ‘ Jerked Across the Jordan ; or, The Sudden and Deserved Elevation of an American Citizen,” This lecture treats incidentally of the ease with which an American citizen may rise in the territories, when he has a strin, tied around his neck, with a few personal friends at the other en of the string. It also treats of the various styles of oratory peculiar to America, with specimens of American oratory that ave been pressed and dried especially for this lecture. It isa ood lecture, and the few straggling facts scattered along through it don’t interfere with the lecture itself in any way. I shall appear in costume during the lecture. At each lecture a different costume will be worn, and the cos- tume worn at the previous lecture will be promptly returned to the owner, Persons attending the lecture need not be identified. Polite American dude ushers will go through the audience to keep the flies away from those who wish to sleep during the lecture. Should the lecture be encored at its close it will be repeated only once. This encore business is being overdone lately, I think.—Boston Globe. HENRY HOLT & Co. HAVE JUST PUBLISHED PROTECTIONISM: The Ism which declares that waste makes wealth, WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER, Professor in Yale College. 16mo, $1.00, ANILL-REGULATED MIND, By KATHARINE WYLDE. (Author of * A Dreamer.”) 16mo. Leisure Mo- soap. Cashmere Bouquet 3 Toilet Soap. Has the largest sale of any superfine toilet erfume novi tionally strong. Send four cents in stamps to Colgate & Co., N. Y., for sample cake. IKRAKAVER LADIES’ TAILOR, “ 19 EAST arst ST., . New YORK. Lonpon anp NEWPORT. 1s now showing his fresh novel tles for the Autumn Seasoa se- lected from leading Loadoa snd Paris Houses. and excep- nd WALKING _ GOWNS, COATS, JACKETS, UL: STERS. Riding Habits with thelr latest improve: ments. ment Series, ascents, Leisure Hour Senes, $1.00. THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY, By J, A. SYMONDS. Part I, Age of the Despots. Part II, The Revival of Learning. Part Il. The Fine Arts, Part IV, Italian Literature. 2 vols, Large 12mo, 5 vols., $2.30 per vol., GEO. MATHER’S SONS RINTING INK 60 JOHN STREET, N. Y. THIS PAPER IS PRINTED WITH OUR SPECIAL -LIFE: INK. ALL GARMENTS ARE STRICTLY TAL Lon MADE aad De- SIGNED. A perfect &t and sat- isfaction guaranteed. Orders by mail ‘ promptly attended to. ATURE STATUETTE OF i Statue. Only $1.00 each, Address, RICHARD BUTLER, Sac’. 33 Mercer Street,’New York, $12.50 per set. Jbffeed G. Carroll, TAILOR & IMPORTER: “Autumn and Winter” London ~ Novelties in great variety. Also PRIESTLEY’S SILK WARP HENRIETTAS Are easily distinguished by their softness and beauty and regularity of finish. They .are made of the finest sik and dest Australian Woel, and are the most thoroughly reliable goods in the market. Specialties in Low Priced Suitings and Overcoatings., Exclusive and Correct Styles. 166 Siccth Sbve., NEW YORK. Lundborg’s Perfume, Edenia. Lundborg’s Perfume, Maréchal Niel Rose. Lundborg’s Perfume, Alpine Violet. Lundborg’s Perfume, Lily of the Valley. Lundborg’s Rhenish Cologne. comicbooks.com