Life, 1887-09-15 · page 11 of 16
Life — September 15, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis: Labor Day Commentary (circa 1880s) This page satirizes Labor Day through multiple perspectives. The top cartoon shows "Smithers" (a cat-hater) waiting anxiously while cats thwart his plans—likely metaphorizing labor disputes where workers ("cats") undermine management expectations. The main content presents mock statements from prominent politicians (Governor Hill, J.G. Blaine, Mr. Foraker) about Labor Day, each revealing their actual indifference or hostility toward labor causes. Hill dismisses labor-related bills as frivolous; Blaine rambles distractedly; Foraker broods on the Civil War rebellion instead. The "True Greatness" section mocks American rags-to-riches mythology: a boy's path from poverty to college culminates merely in becoming a baseball pitcher—deflating the supposed nobility of self-improvement. The final cartoon contrasts "A Knight of Labor" (labor movement advocate) with an ex-pugilist, suggesting organized labor leaders and working-class figures are barely distinguishable from street fighters. The overall satire: politicians exploit Labor Day rhetoric while harboring contempt for actual workers, and labor's "heroes" are unremarkable figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SMITHERS (WHO HATES CATS) HAS TAKEN HIS POSITION AND 1S ANXIOUS BUT, JUDGING FROM THEIR REFRAIN, WE DOURT WAITING FOR HIS GAME TO RISE. OF HIS SUCCESS, GOVERNOR HILL, Labor Day was indeed labor day with me. I spent the greater part of it preparing vetoes in anticipation of bills which I understand are to be brought forward at the coming session providing for Leisure Day, Loafers’ Day, Millionaires’ Day, Farmers’ Day and Heelers’ Day. ‘These have every one been suggested to me, and they seem to be nothing other than reflections upon the good sense of the Execu- tive, which I certainly shall take pains to resent, The afternoon was devoted to filing away the remnants of my Presidential boom in the unfinished-business pigeon-hole, and constructing a platform which can be relied upon to hold labor, capital and me without danger of a collapse. J. G. BLAINE, (a TRURGRAM.) I passed Labor Day thinking of my country, sympathizing with Ireland, devising a plan which shall enable a man to work four hours a week at double wages; looking forward to that happy time when Prohibition’s star shall be in the ascendant, rejoicing in the prosperity of the poor but honest saloon keeper; listening to the delicious strains of the ‘ Boulanger Marche” and ** Marseillaise,” as rendered by a German band, and reconciling myself to the unalterable fact that Lam forever out of politics. MR. FORAKER. We do not celebrate Labor Day in Ohio, but I spent it in deep meditation on the wicked, sinful, dastardly shamefulness of the rebellion. A POOR MAN, Asamember of the Pipe Workers’ Union I could not work on Labor Day, and passed it trying to find some one to lend me enough money to buy a dinner for my wife and children. 1 love a holiday with the same deep affection with which a school-boy clings to his precious hours of leisure, and when I can afford it I take one. But when I cannot afford it, it isa great hardship to be forbidden to work on penalty of a day's pay. . * . All of which is submitted as likely to show whether or not Labor Day is a good thing. 154 TRUE GREATNESS. “ CAN tell you,” said Mr. Spriggins, the American boy has in him the ele- ments of true greatness. Here Garfield be- gan life on the tow-path and reached the presidency; Logan was a poor farmer lad and died United States Senator; and I see here in this paper, the story of a poor lad who educated himself, living on sixteen cents a day, until he knew enough to enter college. Then he took care of a horse to pay his ex- penses, and now “ What is he now, papa?” asked a chorus of Sprigginses with breathless interest. “Now he is one of the best baseball pitchers in the country.” HE man who indulges in too many puts and calls is apt to put out of the back- door when the sheriff calls at the front. LEFT. HAD a witty repartee I'd waited long to say ; Chances I'd had, but not enough Were ‘round to make it pay. At last, the centre of a group, As I in talking led it, The time was come for my remark, —Another fellow said it! 4 ay. Dowell Rice. WE now have a Day as well as a Knight of Labor. £x-Pugilist:; H FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, EH? Becorran, | WOULDN'T MIND TAKIN’ A SHAKE OUT OF HIM MYSELF, comicbooks.com