Life, 1888-01-26 · page 4 of 16
Life — January 26, 1888 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 46 This satirical page critiques post-Civil War fiscal policy. The main section "How to Be Rid of the Surplus" features verse commentary by J.G. Blaine, Mr. Foraker, and John Sherman—likely Republican politicians debating how to spend budget surpluses. Their suggestions range from inflating government expenses to military pensions to relieving the Treasury "at night," satirizing wasteful spending proposals. The right column contains brief social commentary items, including a joke about M.R. Blaine (possibly James G. Blaine) and "brainy women," and criticism of Herbert Spencer's definition of life as incomplete. Below, four small cartoons labeled "A Few Phrases Picked Up at Washington" depict congressional antics: a new representative, maiden speeches, contested seats, and all-night sessions—mocking legislative procedures and partisan behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HOW TO BE RID OF THE SURPLUS. J. G. Blaine : UT it into coast defences, Add to Government expenses’; With the Tariff do not tinker, Discourage artist and the thinker. Make the cost of clothing tough, Enrich the wealthy, cheapen snuff ; If reduction’s your intent, Make yours truly President. * Mr. Foraker: Gives the surplus money o'er ‘To fighting out the Civil War * A Tramp: To relieve the Treasury of its plight, Leave the surplus out at night. * John Sherman : Pension every veteran—even the galoot Who stayed at home in ’61 and fought by substitute ; Aunts and cousins, uncles, e’en the mother-in-law Of him who lost a wink of sleep from cannons’ awful roar. On veterans and all their clan I tearfully do dote, Particularly of the sex that have a right to vote. * * * S a natural gas centre, Governor Foraker is believed to rival Pittsburgh. * * * EORGES I.,, IL., IIL. and IV. of England showed the effects of their dissolute behavior in early life. They were Rex many years before they died. “O YE may smile and smile and be a villain still,” said True. the poet. Too much smiling has been known to make a drunkard of a Prohibition orator. BOSTON correspondent says that the word “swell” is vulgar, irrational and hideous. The same may be said of most of the swells, too. * * * HE despatches tell of a man at Utica Minn., who has been asleep for seven years. This is not so wonderful as the case of Foraker, Sherman and other bloody-shirters, who have been asleep, apparently, ever since the cessation of the war. * * * HE World has a press that will print, fold, count and paste sixty thousand papers an hour. All the Wor/d needs now is a machine to suppress lies and do a little editing once a week. * * * HE most extraordinary thing about our Envoys Extra- ordinary is that there is nothing extraordinary about them. * * * R. BLAINE is reported to have said, ‘God deliver me from brainy women!” How does Gail Hamilton like this? * * * ERBERT SPENCER'S definition of LiFE, “it is change from homogeneity to heterogeneity, differen- tiation and integration,” is not complete. He should have added, “it is ten cents weekly and five dollars a year.” * * * HE man who claims that Philadelphia is on the site of the Land of Nod is a mean-spirited person who has some petty spite against the Quaker City. * * * HE Manhattan Club is said to be ambitious to possess the marble palace of the Stewarts’ on Fifth Avenue. The Manhattan Club seems to be running to marble lately. With a President of that name, a club-house of that material, it will soon be devoted to marbles as a game. pa A FEW PHRASES PICK A new member of the house. Making his maiden speech. ED UP AT WASHINGTON. A contested seat. An all-night session. comicbooks.com