Life, 1889-01-10 · page 11 of 16
Life — January 10, 1889 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains three satirical pieces mocking prominent figures and social issues circa 1889: **"Reflections" (top):** Humorously critiques C.D. Warner's sudden enthusiasm for Kentucky after visiting—suggesting he's been charmed by whiskey, horses, and women, and may use it as a refuge to escape Colonel Field of Chicago's criticism. **"Re-inauguration" (middle):** Jokes about Albany's relief that Governor (likely David B. Hill) has been re-inaugurated. It sarcastically compares removal of a dangerous stone ceiling from the Capitol to the ongoing danger posed by the "Regent's punch" (alcohol), which has caused many injuries yet remains untouched. **"Bishop Merrill" (bottom):** Mocks Methodist Bishop Merrill's claim that President Harrison will attend the inaugural ball "under protest." The satire notes Merrill apparently forgot Harrison's dance partner will be Mrs. Cleveland (the outgoing First Lady)—an awkward social situation that would genuinely justify embarrassment. **Cartoon caption:** A man explains he didn't choose bachelorhood theoretically but through experience—his intended said she'd "be a sister" to him, a polite rejection.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: REFLECTIONS. WV ESTEVER it was that they = put in Mr. C. D. Warner's grog when he visited them in Ken- tucky, it has done its work thoroughly. Since Colonel Warner. came back his views of the blue-grass country are a pleasure to read; they are so beneficent. He speaks of whiskey with cor- diality, of “hosses” with ad- miration, and of blue-grass girls with something approach- ing rapture. It is suggested the Mr. Warner is saving Kentucky for a refuge, whither he can hie when he has finished his remarks on all the other States. Crafty man! who will deny that he has chosen well? Next to her girls, and her whiskey, and her horses, is not the Blue Grass State renowned for the punctuality of her resentments and the scope of her hospitality? Let our Hartford brother avoid the one and cleave to the other, and he will never want for a vantage point whence, if he chooses, he can lie low and sass back at Colonel Field, of Chicago. * * * HE Governor has been re-inaugurated, and Albany is able to get her hat on once more. (Woe are we that we should allude thus to a female.) Which suggests, al- though, the Eidlitz stone ceiling, which merely threatened and never did anybody's head any actual harm, has been taken out of the Capitol by act of Legislature at enormous expense, the Regent’s punch, which has split a thousand sculls, lives and moves and gets in its deadly work, and nothing is proposed to be done about it. Will not Col. Elliott Shepard mention this matter to his young friend, Earnest Crosby? Measures should be taken, it seems to us,.to have the said punch surveyed by a compe- tent board of architects and expert legislators, with a view to its amelioration, if possible, or, if necessary, its annual extinction by selected experts. * * * ETHODIST BISHOP MERRILL (No. X. in the Mail and Express picture gallery), has denounced the prospective inauguration ball as frivolous and wasteful, and is sure that if General Harrison contributes his bodily presence to it, “it will undoubtedly be under protest, and— well, with a feeling of humiliation.” We don't believe that Brother Merrill knows Mr. B. Harrison. Certainly, he has forgotten that the new Presi- dent's partner, at the terpsichorean services he speaks of, will be none else than Mrs. Cleveland. The suggestion that General Harrison will feel humiliated in such company BEYOND ARGUMENT. Waldron: AND SO YOU HAVE DECIDED TO REMAIN A BACHELOR BECAUSE YOU THINK MARRIAGE A FAILURE? McGill (who has just dropped in): THINK! Wuy, HANG IT, ). CK, IN MY CASE I Anow IT! THE GIRL SAID SHE’D BE A SISTER TO ME,