Life, 1886-04-08 · page 11 of 16
Life — April 8, 1886 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 207: Satire on Class, Labor, and Social Pretense This page contains several satirical pieces. The main cartoon shows a chaotic domestic scene, likely depicting marital discord or household upheaval. The opening anecdote mocks social climbing: a St. Louis druggist urgently needs scented soap for an upcoming opera season, implying he's rushing to appear cultured and refined before wealthy guests. "Love Disarmed" is sentimental verse: Cupid loses his bow to a sparrow, symbolizing that modern women marry for money rather than love. The "Latest Definitions" section offers biting political satire on labor disputes and class conflict—then a contentious issue. It presents cynical redefinitions: manufacturers are enslaved by bills, capitalists are villains, strikers are unemployed troublemakers with hangovers, and an "eight-hour movement" supposedly benefits only saloons (bars). The satire targets labor agitators while mocking business owners, reflecting the era's intense class tensions and skepticism toward workers' organizing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WILL MEET THE DEMAND. T. LOUIS DRUGGIST (to New York drummer): “I want that scented soap sent by express. The rest of the order can come by freight.” New York Drummer: “Stock of toilet soap low, eh?” St. Louis Druggist: “ Yes, and we are to have three nights of grand opera next week. Tell your people in New York to hurry it forward.” LOVE DISARMED. NE morn, while Love a-dream- ing lay Among the flowers, a sparrow Flew down and quickly bore away His tiny bow and arrow. An empty quiver hung above Where bees were gathering honey : Ah, me! hearts bleed no more for love, And maidens wed for money. Harold Van Santvoord, A BANANA. SKIN — The Italian fruit vender. HE friends of Mr. Federici, of the Mikado Company, propose tender: ing him a testimonial benefit on Sunday evening, April the rth, at Wallack's ‘Theatre. The following artists have very kindly consented to assist : Mme. Mathilde Cottrelly, Miss Mae St. Jobn, “ Victoria Schilling, ‘* Elsie Cameron, “Laura Clement, “ Lablache, Mr. Kyrle Bellew, Signor Perugini, Marshall P. Wilder, Jules Levy, Harry Pepper, George Thorne, Fred Billington, Ed Morris, Courtice Pounds, etc., etc. ING MATERIAL, IT WAS OVER TEN DAYS AGO THAT WE SENT OUR CORRESPONDENT TO MAKE SOME IL- LUSTRATIONS OF THE OREGON. ONLY SKETCH HE BROUGHT BACK WITH HIM. HE SAYS THE DAMPNESS RUINED HIS DRAW- HE HAS BUT JUST RETURNED, AND THE ABOVE IS THE LATEST. DEFINITIONS. ANUFACTURER—A man whose control of his own business is limited to paying the bills. Boycotr—A benevolent institution imported from Ire- land. Lasor AGITATOR—A toiling workman who labors six- teen hours a day with his chin. CAPITALIST—A villain who has accumulated something by his own industry. STRIKE—An improved gun that wounds ten at the breech as often as one at the muzzle, KNIGHT—A brave fellow who by a secret oath has parted with his personal liberty. EIGHT-HOUR MOVEMENT—A charitable scheme for the benefit of saloons, DisTRICT SECRETARY—A sovereign ruler who “orders out” those that would like to work. LaBORER—A suffering martyr from the tyranny of— strikers. STRIKER—A man having a “good time "—with a head- ache and an empty pocket the next morning. Webster Superseded, comicbooks.com