Life, 1898-11-17 · page 13 of 20
Life — November 17, 1898 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the Spanish-American War (1898) and the subsequent Philippines conflict through two pieces: **Top cartoon** ("The Rough Riders' Charge at San Juan"): A chaotic battle scene drawn in exaggerated style, mocking the famous charge associated with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders regiment. **Bottom section**: A mock congressional hearing where a Colonel Lacey Feathers testifies about his regiment's conditions. His account is absurdly self-serving—claiming measles resulted from soldiers being "too proud to wear goloshes" and that only "Populists and Middle of the Road men" died for "political effect." The testimony satirizes how military officials downplayed problems (disease, poor conditions) and blamed critics for politicizing soldier deaths. **The small cartoon** (two dogs) jokes about beauty being subjective—a poodle asks a pug's honest opinion, receiving flattery based on shared characteristics. The page mocks official military explanations for disease and casualties as politically motivated propaganda, suggesting incompetence was being covered up through partisan blame-shifting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fare not desired; they pay no taxes, and Yes, sir! Iam a candidate for postmaster back home, and expect to get there.” The Colonel retired, and, aftor a careful seldom vote. And we will bring ® verdict redeeming the nation from monstrous insult, and rehabilitate the great Algerian, Wo know our number.” Colonel Lacey Feathers was called and said: “{ am from Michigan. I am Colonel of the Pingree Fusileers, Was appointed by the old man, Used to keep a grocery and general store. Have smelt powder; I sell it. My regiment was at Chickamauga, Thero was a good deal of colic and sickness from over- eating. The truffles and birds supplied the boys were entirely too rich for them. We were annoyed a good deal by West Pointers sneaking round our camp. Complained to the War Department and they were removed, We had a serious epidemic of measles, caused by wet feet ; but our boys were too proud to wear xoloshes, though some bad gum-boots. THE ROUGH RIDERS’ CHARGE AT SAN JUAN, Drawn by our Spanish Artist. A PREJUDICED OPINION, The Poodle: AND DO YOU HONESTLY THINK MISTRESS BRAUTIPUL? The Pug: YOU BET! SHE MAS 4 pug Nose. examination of the lists, Major Lewey Ratz, Medical 8taff, U.S.A. was called. Dr. Ratz testified that “the hospital arrange- ments wero porfect, evon rubber casos shaving been supplied to protect the sugar- coating of the pills. There were many cases of alleged sickness, but largely among Populists and Middle of the Road. men, who died purely for political effect. ‘The camps were ideal from a medical and military point of view. The great trouble was flies. Each regiment brought its own files, and when tho files from different sections were brigaded together we naturally bad an opidemic. Tho regulars escaped, becauso the regular fly refused to affiliate with the volunteer fly. The saddest thing is that enemies of the Administration cornered the fly-powder market, and so paralyzed tho medical staff. Thero were no flies on us, As to food, thero was a superabund- ance of it, Some soldiers ate 80 much comicbooks.com