Life, 1898-12-01 · page 6 of 21
Life — December 1, 1898 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "The Young Hero" and The Recording Angel This page presents a satirical dialogue between "The Young Hero" (a pompous war correspondent) and "The Recording Angel" (a winged figure taking notes). The satire mocks the correspondent's vanity and self-aggrandizement. The joke centers on the correspondent's obsessive fear that his name won't be recorded in history, complaining that even church attendance gets noted but his war coverage might be forgotten. The angel's deadpan responses expose his narcissism—suggesting his name is only "used for brands of chewing gum and whiskey" and that "the Salvation lassies would take you in low." The accompanying sketches depict absurd "classic" moments supposedly taken up by journalists, mocking how war correspondents sensationalize and exaggerate their importance to historical record. The satire critiques journalistic self-importance and the trivialization of serious events.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
426 -LIFE: The “ Young Hero" and The Recording Angel. A City Park Square, late at night. &: Fame ant The Young Hero. ‘CHE YOUNG HERO (in alarm): Is I some one coming? Alas, 1 am lost | I shall be disco behind a tree, A measured flapping is heard and a winged figure approaches. Finally is revealed to view the portly form of THe RecouvtNo ANGEL.) CORDING ANGEL (seating himself, panting, on a bench): Now, young man, if you'll be 80 good us to repeat your last remark, T'll be obliged (aside) to note it down, Fame (weaving her hand impatiently): Never mind that now. Ob, if you'll believe it, be wants his name taken off my scroll! R. A.: Why not oblige tho young gentleman, my dear? F.: Lean't rub itout. I've tried, but it’s there to stay. Y.H. (emerging from behind his tree): You really must, [can’t stand itany longer. I haven't had a minuto to myself all day, If I go into the church even, and sit inthe back pew, the minister is suro to spy mo, and mention “The Young Hero we have with us to-day ;" and then (if Ido say it myself) the Almighty is snowed under in a jiffy, Every eyo is turned on mo, and everybody waits for mo at the 4 FAMOUS WAR CORRESPONDENT. door and walks home with me. Sir (pathetically), have you ever been shadowed by a detective? Just think what it must be, then, to be shadowed by sixty million of ’em, even with the kindest intentions, R. A.: Go on. Y.H, (dejectedly): At tho theatre it's tho samo way. If I'm enjoying tho play ‘way back ina box, some woman is sure to sce mo and yell (lowers his voice and looks around appre- hensively)—my name, Sh! Don’t say it aloud, And then I have to makea speceh, and if the prima donna gets a bouquet, she fires It at me, One hit me in the eyo last night, Ladies’ aim’s so bad. Rango findor’s always out of order, you know. R. A.: Proceed. Y. H. (indignantly): Even my name doesn’t belong to me any more. They're using it for brands of chewing gum! and whiskey!! and sausages!!! to say nothing of striped nightshirts and nursing bottles 111! R. A. (patiently): Anything else? Y. H, (blushing furiously): Yes, and they kiss mo—tho girls do. I like to do my own kissing. I'd be most willing to kiss them all, but they won’t wait. What shall we do for him? Y. H. (eagerly): I'vo thought I might commit a crime of “DON'T READ IT; YER WoN'r Like IT" some sort that would take my namo off the scroll of fume. “wor Nort” R. A. (yatoning): Impossible! The clty missionaries “DE FELLER DOES NoTUIN' BUT TAKES BATHS.” and the Salvation lassies would take you in tow, They’ro T CLASSIC 18 DAT YER TAKEN UP Now!” icbooks.com