Life, 1888-03-15 · page 12 of 16
Life — March 15, 1888 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire Analysis This page combines political commentary with humor typical of *Life* magazine's satirical approach. **Top section**: "Coke Revised" mocks legal theorist William Blackstone's famous maxim that "a man's house is his castle" by contrasting it with Henry George's land-reform philosophy—suggesting George would argue your neighbor's house becomes yours if you lack one. This satirizes contemporary debates over property rights and land taxation. **Middle cartoon**: The Irish father-and-son sketch stereotypes Irish-American immigrants, playing on period ethnic caricature conventions and suggesting hereditary behavioral traits ("O'Fogarty blood"). **Main feature**: "The Presidential Enigma" is a word puzzle where solving 21 letters reveals the next U.S. president's name. The clues reference contemporary political figures (James Blaine, Joseph Foraker) and mock the unpredictability of elections. The satirical "prize" structure (betting on the answer) jabs at election-day gambling and political uncertainty—essentially suggesting even solving the puzzle won't definitively predict outcomes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
156 COKE REVISED. oe MAN’S house is his castle,” so says Coke ; But Henry George this maxim would revoke: “T£ you no house or castle have,” says he, “Your neighbor's house your castle then may be.” Jue: DO NOT RIDE A FAT HORSE. Father ; LAVE THE LAD ALONE, BIDDY, ACUSHLA, IT’S THE O’FOGARTY BLOOD THAT'S IN HIM, AN’ SURE HE CAN'T HELP IT! LIFE’S PUZZLE DEPARTMENT. THE PRESIDENTIAL ENIGMA. AM composed of 21 letters, none of which need be burnt, nor are any of them from Florence. They have no pee-esses, and are warranted harmless to politicians, however young. My 4,9, 21 represents approximately the state of a man who has been stung by a hornet. The word is used at times, also, to indicate the mental condition of the March hare and a hatter when business is dull. My 2, 5, 19 is frequently bet on elections. Is worn by cardinals, millers and ladies at the theatre. My 1, 19, 13 is simultaneously a game of childhood and a bit of pasteboard to be tied on a parcel, a valise, or an inebriated broker, who has expressed a wish to be returned to his domicile when he is replete. My 2, 12, 5, 21 a man must have if he wishes to wear a hat or go into business. _——My 3, 5, 7 is a popular exercise in which the mouth organ comes into play. My 6, 15, 17, 20, 16, 3 has but oneeye. P.S.—For the sake of students, we will say that this is not a cyclop. We may add that some people think a rich man has less chance of getting into Heaven than a camel has of going through the eye in question. My 8, 17, 21, 11, 3 represents the business in which the backers of Mr. Blaine have been since the Florence letter. It also represents a nicely cut fence made of growing plants. My 13, 5, 18, 19 is one of the many things in which Mr. Foraker is lacking. My 14, 16, 5, 7, 3 is carried alike by school-boy and politician. Many a one will be broken before election day. My whole represents the next President of the United States. If you want to know who he is, study thisenigma. There are cash prizes for those successfully solv- ing the puzzle before next election day. $10,000. 1st.—The person who correctly solves the enigma, and then bets $10,000 on the information therein found, will receive $10,000, if the man he bets with is good pay. $5,000. 2d.—There is a prize of $5,000 for the person who had intended to bet $5,coo the other way, and who, after solving the enigma, decided not to. 3d.—We will send our congratulations to all who solve the enigma, provided they send ten cents in postage stamps, a year's subscription to Lire, and a stamped and directed envelope to this office on or before April rst. In case none of our readers solve the enigma, we hereby guarantee that the cash prizes will not be devoted to any charity they may name. comicbooks.com