Life, 1891-01-01 · page 12 of 18
Life — January 1, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Satire of Gilded Age Social Climbing This page satirizes the newly wealthy industrialists of 1890s New York attempting to buy their way into "high society." **The Main Joke:** Peter Oleum (a transparent name suggesting oil wealth) contacts Ward McGuillister—a real social arbiter famous for compiling New York's "400" elite families—literally trying to *purchase* admission to high society for his daughters. McGuillister treats it like a transaction, eventually charging $3,000 for a dinner where the Oleum girls might meet "profitable" connections. **The Satire's Point:** The exchange exposes that aristocratic exclusivity is a sham. McGuillister's initial snobbery vanishes once he learns Oleum is wealthy. The nouveau riche (oil-rich Oleum, whose wife's father passed counterfeit money and died in Sing Sing prison) can literally buy their daughters' social acceptance through McGuillister's services—proving that Gilded Age "nobility" runs on cash, not genuine breeding. **The Poem Above** ridicules another social outsider: a mysterious "northern gentleman" whose romantic courtesies (always departing at dawn) reveal he's from the Arctic—another outsider trying to infiltrate polite society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: A NORTHERN GENTLEMAN. UST where he hailed from no one knew, Nor was the cold fact brought to view, Till he began to court the ladies. Dawn always came before he made his Profound adieux. And so they found He came from frozen polar ground, Up near the circle, where the night Takes six months for its icy flight ! OUR HAUTE NOBLESSE. 1, FieTH AVENUE HOTEL, DEC, 16, 1890, Mr. WARD MCGULLISTER, c/o Mrs. Aster’s Chef, Fifth Ave., N. Y. City. D'r St1R—What would be your lowest terms, net cash, to get my two daughters, Gussie and Susie, into the 400? Y'rs truly, PETER OLEUM. I, DELMONICO's, Wednesday. Morning. Ward McGullister, Esqr., presents his compliments to Mr. P. Oleum, and should beg leave to say that he would not be able to estimate on the job without knowing more about Mr. Oleum’s family and antecedents. Mr. P, OLEuM, Fifth Ave. Hotel. 1m. Mr. WARD MCGULLISTER, Delmonico's. D'r Str—Your favor of the 17th inst. contents noted, Not knowing exactly what you want, I find it difficult to reply. My wife, Polly, was the second daughter of Tom Hicks, who kept the livery stable at Smith's Corners. The old man hada little bad luck in connection with passing some counterfeit money, and died in Sing Sing; but my wife is a lady, every inch of her, and thinks she ought to get the girls into society. She sent ‘em both to the Franklinville High School, and when my oil-wells began to spout she sent ‘em to dancing school in Corry. She has just had ‘em over to Paris, and has bought ‘em as fine an outfit of clothes as you ever set eyes on. The girls learned to speak French over there, and you just ought to see the waiters open their eyes when they order dinner. Polly is dead in earnest about this busi- ness, and the sooner you let us know your terms the better she will be pleased, Y'rs truly, PETER OLEUM. to hand, and Iv. Friday Morning. Ward McGullister, Esqr., presents his compliments to Mr. P. Oleum, and finds Mr. Oleum's references quite satisfac- factory. Mr. McGullister should suggest that Mr. Oleum should send him a certified check for $3,000, to pay the expenses of a dinner for ten, to which Mr. McGullister will “WHAT A CHARMING LITTLE boc!” The other (impressively): YES; NE USED TO BELONG TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES. WELL, 1 SHOULDN'T CARE; HE DOESN'T LOOK A BIT SECOND- MAND." invite the Misses Oleum and some parties who Jit will be profitable for them to know. ve Warp MCGULLISTER, Esqr., Delmonico’s. D'r StR—Your favor of 19th inst. to hand. Enclosed please find certified check for $3,000, as per your request, Please acknowledge. Couldn't you invite Mrs. Oleum to that dinner? I don’t care anything about it myself—corn beef and cabbage is good enough for me: but the old lady is dead anxious to see how you do these things, and I wouldn’t mind another 500 if you could do it. Please let me know about this at once. Y'rs truly, PETER OLEUM, vi. Ward McGullister, Esqr., would remind Mr. Oleum that in good society it is not customary to ask for invitations to entertainments. comicbooks.com