Life, 1899-02-16 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 16, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 123 This page contains satirical commentary on American imperialism circa the early 1900s. "The White Man's Burden" references Kipling's famous poem justifying colonial expansion. The piece sarcastically presents Uncle Sam's rationale for occupying the Philippines—claiming moral duty while admitting the actual costs: "three million negroes," "billion dollars," and countless lives lost. The two classical engravings above ("Bacchus and Ariadne" and "Paris and Helen") are labeled "Historic Flirtations," likely contrasting ancient mythological seductions with modern colonial "adventures." The accompanying dialogue critiques how colonizers romanticize imperial conquest while dismissing legitimate concerns about the Filipino population. The final aphorism—"Adventure is more useful in colonization than inconvenability"—appears darkly satirical of justifications for imperial expansion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BACCHUS AND ARIADNE. “The White Man’s Burden.” UNCLE SAM TO KIPLIXO. “Take wp the Waite Man's burdent Have done with cAitdun days."—R. K. H, thank you, Mr. Kipling, For showing us tho way To buckle down to business And end our “childish day.” Wo know wo'ro young and frisky And haven't too much senso — At least, not in the measure We'll bave a few years hence, suitabke ich, aad MPANY, Now, this samo “White Man’s burden” You're asking us to toto Is not so unfamiliar As you're inclined to note. Wo freed three million negroes, ‘Their babies and their wives; It cost a billion dollars, And near a million lives! And while wo wore a-fighting In all those “thankless years” omentt on, wo? HISTORIC FLIRTATIONS, “ Upétep ni nor ipard bdpa xprodns Agposirys”” PARIS AND HELEN. Wo did not get much helping— Well, not from English * peers.” And so—with best intontions— Woe'ro not exactly wild To free the Filipino, “ Half deviland half child.” ‘Then, thank you, Mr Kipling, Though not disposed to groan About the White Man’s burden, Wo've troubles of our own; Enough to keep us busy When English friends inquire, “Why don’t you uso your talons? There are chestnuts in the fire!” Droch, PEAK toa woman disparagingly of her sex, she is up in arms, Speak to her disparagingly of a mem- ber of ber sex—well, it is difficult to Pprognosticate her attitude, but she will not be up in arms. Bear: 80 KIND OF YOU TO BRING ME A LIGHT—I THIN T SAW A FEW MORE IN THERE. DVENTURE is more useful in colonization than in connubiality,