Life, 1898-06-16 · page 15 of 20
Life — June 16, 1898 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Upper portion:** A historical article about naval victories in the War of 1812, specifically Captain Charles Stewart's February 1815 engagement where the USS *Constitution* defeated two British vessels (*Cyane* and *Levant*) simultaneously—noteworthy because it occurred *after* peace was declared. The accompanying sketch shows sailors in combat on deck. **Lower portion:** An unrelated satirical cartoon titled "Absolute Necessities," depicting two men discussing a furniture van outside a house. The joke plays on marital dynamics: the husband claims his wife merely took their baby to her mother's house, but the presence of moving equipment suggests she's actually leaving him—a humorous commentary on domestic conflict and male obliviousness. The page also includes a cynical caption: "Society is composed of two classes: those who talk war, and the dumb"—typical of *Life* magazine's satirical tone about American society and military affairs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SIM most brilliant minor engagements of the war, THE “CONSTITUTION,” “ LEVANT" AND. “CYAN UT one of the most glorious battles at sea took place after peace had been declared, ptain Charles Stewart commanded the Constitution in 1814-15, and on February 20, 1815, when off St. Vincent, he gave chase to a strange sail, Soon after be si; a second. Running up to both vessels, the Constitution engaged them together, and, securing an advan- tageous position, made things so lively that ina short time one of them—the Cyane—struck. The other vessel—the Lecant—had retired, but Stewart now went after her, and captured her also, Combined, the two were easily superior to the Constitution, . . . HE last shot of the war of 1812 was fired from the Peacock, when she captured the Nawilus in the Straits of Sunda, cn June 30, 1815, The Nautilus was also the first vessel taken in the war, having been captured by the British soon = after hostilities began, (To be continued.) OCIETY is composed of two cla: 5 -sir-am Goeamodore Hodere’ those who talk war, and the dumb, “T, sir,am e Rodgers ! of threo other vessels compelled him to brig Epercier, and, though chased by two Absolute Necessities. abandon, and on September 2ist took the English frigites, escaped with his prize. . : , i Atlanta, near the hsaross The Wasp never Early in 1815 the Frestdent was takou'e an ABBERS: I saw a furniture van » back from this cruise. Nooneknows English squadron, In March, 1815, Cap- standing in front of your house this what became of her. tain James Biddle, in the Hornet, captured morning. You aren't moving, are you? In April, 1814, Captain Warrington, in the the eighteen-gun Penguin in just twenty Havens: No, My wife took the baby eighteen-gun Peacock, captured the English minutes, This was considered one of the — to spend the day at ber mother’s, that’s all. Constitution, Lecant und Cyane,