Life, 1892-08-25 · page 12 of 14
Life — August 25, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 110 **Top Cartoon ("Be It Ever So Humble"):** Irish immigrant characters discuss a homesick coworker who built a model of his father's Irish castle. The joke satirizes Irish nostalgia and immigrant homesickness—the punchline reveals the "dead landlord" figure represents the Irish peasant's bitter memory of exploitative landlords in Ireland, suggesting deep class resentment embedded in immigrant culture. **"Health and Politics" Article:** Attacks Charles G. Wilson's appointment to New York's Board of Health as a Tammany Hall (corrupt Democratic machine) political favor. The quoted admission that Dr. Ewing is being fired despite perfect performance—solely due to political pressure—exemplifies machine corruption. Life warns this politicization of public health endangers citizens by replacing competent officials with party loyalists, especially threatening during cholera epidemics. **Bottom Cartoons:** Two unrelated satirical sketches—one about a woman's petticoat ("Query") and "Coney Island Stakes" (likely horse racing satire).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, ETC., ETC. Mrs, O' Walsh: AN’ PAWAT HAVE YEZ HERE, Missis Mac O'DaLey ? Mrs. M, O'D,: ARRAN, THIN, DINNIS WAS THAT HOMESICK THAT HE BUILT HIMSELF A MODEL OF HIS FATHER'S CASTLE IN TIPPERARY, AN’ [PHWIN HE COMES HOME AT NOIGHT AFTHER A HA'R'R'D DAY'S WOR'R'K NE SUSHT TAKES HIS POIPE AN’ SITS FOR ST THIS SHPOT TILL THE BUR'R'RNIN’ TEARS DO BE RUNNIN’ DOWN HIS CHEEK, Mfrs. OW AN’ PHWAT DOES THAT FIGURE RIPRISINT ? Mrs, M. O'D,: OW, THAT'S A DEAD LAN'LORD, BAD SISS TO HIM! HEALTH AND POLITICS. HE curse of partisan politics has at last fallen upon the New York Board of Health. This important public department was, until recently, conducted entirely with reference to the public safety, but with the appointment of Charles G. Wilson as President, it became apparent that Tammany methods would have to prevail here as elsewhere in the City Government. This eminent spoilsman said, in demanding the resig- nation of Dr. W. A. Ewing as Sanitary Superintendent : “T cannot place my finger upon any act of yours, or any failure on your part to act, which has not given me perfect satisfaction. You have been careful, judicious and prudent always, but the pressure for your place is so strong that Lam unable to withstand it, and you must hand me your resigna- tion or I must get out myself.” In view of such patriotism as this utterance betrays, New Yorkers may look forward with thorough satisfaction and little apprehension to the expected visit of cholera. Already there is a marked increase in the death-rate from diseases which can be checked and controlled by proper management on the part of the Board of Health, This is not a “ scare” statement, but is proven by the official statistics. New Yorkers have not objected strongly to Tammany’s attacks on their pockets. LIFE wonders whether they will be equally indifferent to the spectacle of Tammany imperilling the lives of themselves and their families. THE LATEST NEW JERSEY MURDER. A QUERY. ER feet beneath her petticoat Like little mice stole in and out But did it ever occur to you, Br'er Suckling, how lucky it is that she didn’t view them in that light? RACING TERMS. “CONEY ISLAND STAKE: comicbooks.com