Life, 1899-01-19 · page 15 of 20
Life — January 19, 1899 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of political satire: **1. "A Word in the Czar's Ear"** (main article with Tolstoy caricature): Life criticizes Russian autocracy, referencing rumors that writer Count Tolstoy was banished for helping religious Dissenters. The piece argues Russia needs domestic reform and constitutional rights rather than pursuing universal disarmament rhetoric. It urges the Czar to tolerate intellectuals like Tolstoy instead of suppressing them. **2. "Things Left Out of History"** (large illustration, right): A chaotic cartoon titled "The Bucking Horse of Ancient Times" depicts a wild, bucking horse throwing various historical figures and objects. This appears to be satirizing chaos in history or historical unpredictability, though the specific reference is unclear. **3. Brief mentions** of Secretary of War Alger and street-cleaning official R. McCCartney provide local New York political commentary. The Irish dialect story at top appears unrelated—likely filler content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LTPEr “«*Kape your thanks, ye woild Oirishman,’ sez he, an’ the poipe fell frum his mouth, He wos too wake to pick ut up, an’ Oi c’u’dn't help him. “*Remimber me to th’ Kurnel an’ th’ bhoys,’ he sez. “Oi luk’d at bim quick an’ answers, ‘Fwat for? Yez'll sce ’em yersilf soon.” “*Yez wor always a thick-headid liar, O'Leary,’ be sez slowly, an’ wid thot he rolls over and dics.” William Banks, Jr. A Word in the Czar’s Ear. HAT Russia needs is not so much a policy of universal peace abroad as a little common sense and forbearance at home. The ever-veracious newspapers tell us that Count Tolstot has been banished on account of his securing a chance for the Dissenters to Ds exchange the despot- ism of the Czar for the milder government of S Canada, This may or [ may not be true, bat it would be quite in line with Russian tradi tion, It isto be hoped that the statement is a canard, for Russia needs enlightenment in quite a few direc- % tions, and can’t spare | | intellects, even ‘ though they dis- play their devel- opment in eccen- tric ways. If the Czar |/ were alittle more practical ruler, he would let Tol- stot and other thinkers alone, and take some steps towards granting his sub- jects constitutional rights, instead of crying for the far-away moon of universal disarma- ment. . R. McCARTNEY is not a wonder at street- ! cleaning, but he is the ablest explainer tho city of New York has employed since long before it spread itself. What the good people New York would like is to see tho streets. ly clean again, and then to have McCartney explain how it happoned. IFE is credibly informed that Mr. Alger, of Michigan, . has been prevatied upon to remain in Mr. McKin- THINGS LEFT OUT OF HISTORY, ley's Cabinet ag Secretary of War. TUR BECKING MORSE OF ANCIENT TINS,