Life, 1898-05-12 · page 9 of 20
Life — May 12, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 401 This page discusses "Staying at Home" during wartime (likely WWI based on context). The two medallion portraits at left appear to be historical naval figures—one labeled with references to Thomas Truxton and naval engagements. The main text argues Americans should remain in the U.S. rather than travel abroad, as transatlantic travel is now dangerous and limited. It notes that steamships previously used for European tourism are being repurposed for war efforts. The brief poem "Visitors" uses aquarium fish as a humorous metaphor for unwanted guests—they're pretty to look at but visitors similarly prefer to admire from a distance rather than be kept contained. The small illustration at bottom depicts a cherub or cupid figure, captioned "HAIL, SPRING!"—a seasonal artwork unrelated to the main content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHOMAS THURTOY a2 Q MAR CBABOOEZ WN = ON” MEDAL PRES By ¢ of this war was accomplished by Captain Truxton, in his famous cruise in the Constel- lation. On February e Constellation took the French frigate Insurgente off St. Kitts. The Constellation was slightly su perior. to the Insurgente. One year later Captain Truxton, in the Constellation, bad his famous fight with the Vengeance, a vessel slightly superior to the Constellation The action began at eight o'clock at night, and continued for five hours, when the Ven- geance succeeded in escaping, During the engagement her colors were twice struck, but Truxton was unable to see this, The Ven- geance was badly crippled, as the fire of the Constellation had been deliberate and direct. Much excitement and exultation was created by this battle. Our saitors were lauded to the skies, and, under the extraordinary pressure of public opinion, Congress actually voted Truxton a gold medal and gave him command of the President, Many of the mincr officers in this war were afterwards to achieve celebrity, among them being Midshipmen Stephen Decatur and David Porter, and Lieutenant Isaac Hull, the famous Commander of the Constitution in the War of 1812, (To be continued.) GRESS TU CAPT. TRENTON, Staying at Home. W* hall know more about a number of things when we get through this war. Perhaps when we have paid the bills we shall think the knowledge worth the money; perhaps we shall think it dearly bought. But, at any rate, knowledge is all we shall get out of it, and it behooves us to grasp and salt down every bit of it that re- sults, Ilere’s one little piece that comes early. It has transpired already Uhat the propensity to spend the summer in Europe is not incon- sistent with a strong interest in the fate and concerns of this country. The Amcricans are staying at home this year. So far, at least, trans- atlantic travel is extremely light. Passages enguged have been given up, and folks who intended to go abroad are letting their steamers go off without them, and are cither vaiting to see what turns up, or have developed new simmer plans to be carricd out at home. Yet the only conclusive reasons for staying at home are sentimental ones. Steamships still manage to squeez in and out of New York harbor without being blown up, and under the British, German or French flags the At- lantic ferry is as safe as it ever was. If our people don't go abroad it is not from fear of any special peril, but becaus their interest in what is going on at home is so consuming that th can't tear th Ives away. There would be a at sea without a newspaper, which would be agonizing, and after that there would be only British or continental newspapers to read, which, while they will give the important items of big news, will not chronicle in sufficient detail the movements of the various organizations of the National Guard and Naval Reserve which so mao readers following with breathless iuterest. And then, we all have to talk, and must keep within reach of our acquaintanccs. It is too lively a game to leave. There is nothing in Europe that can compete with it. Ah there, Europe! Stay there, please! We will see you presently, but for the moment we are cn, are OW that we have a Harcard and Yale, why not have a Vassar? Visitors. MP niet is an aquarium That's full of funny fish; I love to sit and have them come, Obedient to my wish, Sometimes these fish are beautiful, With colors gay and bright, And then, again, they are quite dull, And not a pleasant sight. They're liveliest at feeding time; I give them hopes and fears: Nutritious thoughts, an idle rhyme— But they prefer ideas, My mind is av aquarium ‘The fiony tribes invest, And yet, of all the fish that come, I love the mermaids best, HAIL, SPRING