Life, 1898-06-02 · page 3 of 20
Life — June 2, 1898 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 459 **Top Section - "Intercessional":** This poem by M. Croskly Sykes commemorates naval figures, likely from the Spanish-American War era. References to "Godkin" (editor E.L. Godkin), Manila, and "Yankee heart" suggest it honors American naval leadership during the 1898 conflict. The phrase "Lost we forgot; lost we forget" is a memorial refrain. **Bottom Section - "Work for the Unemployed":** This article and accompanying caricatures satirize military service as employment for idle men. The grotesque character illustrations ("So Gentleman") mock the idea that offering military jobs—particularly in Cuba and the Philippines—solves unemployment while benefiting the country through imperial expansion. The satire critiques using warfare as social policy. **Top Illustration:** "The Jersey Reserves Are Manning the Mosquito Fleet" depicts naval personnel, likely humorously referencing militia or auxiliary naval forces.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
es of wear in sil eet THE JERSEY RESERVES ARE MANNING THE MOSQUITO FLEET. Work for the Unemployed. THE lists of staff appointments, as well as the rolls of the vol- = unteer regiments, give gratify- ing evidence of the usefulness of war in furnishing occupa- tion for the unem- ployed. A good many gentlemen who have had lots to eat and little to do these ™\ many years have got military jobs and are already accumulating ex- periences which will expand their conversational resources for the rest of their lives, Many of them are known as active and competent men and enthusiastic sportsmen, and will bring to the prosecution of military enterprises in Cuba and the Philippines an ardor long disciplined by the pursuit of polo balls and foxes. y is essential to contentment, and a change of sport is as welcome to a jaded system asa change of food, War, like most other evils, has its compensations, and one of the greatest of them is the chance it gives tu idle men to make themselves of use to the country. Intercessional. (With apologies to R——d K—g.) ODKIN the Righteous, known of old, Priest of the Natic health ; Within whose Post we daily read The Gospel of the Rights of Wealth ; Great Erening Post, be with us yet, Lest we forget; lest we forget. The Tribune drools; the Sun is vile; Tho Journal and the World are lies; Alone thy Post speaks forth the truth— Not bumble, but divinely wise. Omniscient Post, don't leave us yet, Lest we forgot; lest we forget. For East our navy swots the foo; Manila falls beneath our fi We're tempted, Larry, to exult But chide us with thy caustic ire. Great Evening Post, reprove us yet, Lest we forgot; lest we forget If, proud of Dewey, we ¢ And count the ships t) Such boastings as our father Benighted folks without the Post ; Godkin, be quick ; remind us Lest we forget; lest we forge For Yankee heart that puts her trust In twelve-inch guns and armor plate, And reco; h not that all— are degenerate; For licking Spain and wicked brag; Godkin, forgive thy Country's flag. M'Cready Sykes. Raisreo+Aooans “NO GENTLEMAN.” comicbooks.com