Life, 1894-05-17 · page 3 of 18
Life — May 17, 1894 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Trying to Drive a Bargain" The cartoon satirizes the American aspiration to acquire European nobility titles. The illustration shows a man struggling to manage a horse-drawn cart while children playfully crack a whip and wave a flag—depicting the chaos of attempting to "drive a bargain" for a ducal title. The accompanying article mocks wealthy Americans who purchase or marry into European aristocratic titles. It specifically references a Paris journal advertisement offering a dukedom for sale. The satire targets the absurdity of this practice: these titles provide no practical benefit, yet wealthy Americans eagerly pursue them to impress society and guests. The piece argues such titles are meaningless for "American progenitors" and represents empty social climbing rather than genuine achievement or distinction.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME Xxill. TRYING TO DRIVE A BARGAIN. NUMBER 594. HERE’S A CHANCE! T is not every day that a simple American citizen has an opportunity of be- coming a duke. A recent Paris journal contained this advertisement and LIFE will be very sorry if some American does not secure the proffered article, —TITRE DUCAL; REALISATIONS M. Gosselin, 3 rue Ballu, Now there is plenty of room in this town for one more duke, and, as good luck will have it, LIFE knows just the American who ought to have it. We refer, of course, to the gentleman who seems to be the figurehead of New York fashionable society. Although the members of this body have attained their present eminence in spite of a somewhat plebcian ancestry, there is no reason for supposing that a real nobleman for a leader would not lend additional lustre to the band. If this title comes too high for the gentleman's private purse, we are sure some wealthier member of the 400 would be glad to buy it for him. And just think what a difference it would make! How it would impress thé foreigner within the gates to have among your guests the Duc de Macon Vieux, or whatever the title may be, instead of an every-day Mister. And then, of course, the ancestors go with the title. Our present leader, instead of being the descendant of worthy but unimportant American ancestors, will suddenly become the offspring of a long line of. the Lord knows what! Probably of several generations of dissolute loafers, but that is no disadvantage for social purposes. It cannot hurt him physically, as he is already composed of his more decent American progenitors. In other words, he will have all the glory with none of the disadvantages. This opportunity should not be lost.