Life, 1893-01-05 · page 16 of 60
Life — January 5, 1893 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains congratulatory letters to *Life* magazine on what appears to be a birthday or anniversary. The central portrait is labeled "Wilson de Meza," though the identity remains unclear from the image alone. The letters are satirical. President Grover Cleveland (signed "GROVER") humorously offers *Life* the position of Secretary of State, praising the magazine's tough stances on pension policy, Tammany Hall corruption, silver currency debates, and civil service reform—contemporary political issues of the 1880s-90s. A second letter, signed by "Ribbie, Rocksie and Bonesie" of the Fifth Avenue Stage Line (stables), humorously claims they've benefited from *Life*'s coverage, now receiving three oats daily instead of one—a joke about how the magazine's influence extends even to horses. The surrounding images appear to be sample content from the magazine, though specific subjects aren't identifiable from this reproduction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WILSON DE MEZA. CONGRATULATORY. M* DEAR LIFE: 1 am glad to learn of the present evidence of your prosperity. We both seem to be on the top wave, and I wish I was as sure as you of making friends instead of enemies during the next four years. How- ever, | donot think you are any more afraid of making enemies than | am, when for the public good it is necessary to do so. Your treatment of the pension question and the Grand Army, of Tammany Hall and its heelers, of the silver question and the silver barons, of Civil Service Reform and the office seek- ers, all go to show that you are solid on the questions of the hour. In recognition of the present joyful occasion and of your sturdy and fearless Americanism, | hereby offer the position of Secretary of State in my Cabinet to Lire, and enclose a stamped and addressed envelope for its reply. With all good wishes, dear Lire, 1 remain, incerely yours, GROVER. * * * D AR L) We had a meeting at the stable last night and appointed a committee of three to wish you joy on your birthday. You may be glad to know that because you wrote about us we are now each getting three oats a day, instead of only one as formerly. Yours faithfully, Ripsiz, ROCKSIE AND BONESIE, of the Fifth Avenue Stage Line. comicbooks.com