Life, 1899-03-23 · page 8 of 20
Life — March 23, 1899 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire Analysis This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"The Missionary and the Filipinos"** (top left): A clergyman converting Filipinos "with his gun" satirizes American imperialism in the Philippines. The dialogue mocks the hypocrisy of calling colonial rule a "government of the people by the people"—when it's actually "by the office-holders for the politicians." This references early-1900s American military occupation and forced Christianization of the Philippines. **"The Conscientious Curate and the Beauteous Ballet Girl"** (right): A verse-and-cartoon story about a moral clergyman (William) who attends his first theatrical performance and falls in love with a dancer. She leaves the stage, marries him, and settles into parish life. The satire gently mocks both clerical prudishness about theater and the romantic fantasy of "reforming" performers through marriage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
228 The [lissionary and the Filipinos. CLERGYMAN went to Luzon, Where mission he found he had none, For General Otis On very short notice Had converted them all with his gun. ¢¢ DAPA, is it right to say this is a govern- ment of the people for the people by the people ?” “No, my son, Correctly speaking, it is a government of the people by the office- holders for the politiciaus.” The Conscientious Curate and the Beauteous Ballet Girl. youss William was a curate good, Who to himself did say: “I cawn't denounce the stage as vile Until I’ve seen a play.” He was so con-sci-en-ti-ous ‘That, when the play he sought, To grasp its entire wickedness A front row seat he bought. Twas in the burlesque, you know, the burlesque of ** Prince Pret!;- pate, or the Fairy Muffin Ring,” and when the ballet came on, that good young curate met his fate. She, too, was in the front row,and— She danced like this, she danced like that, Her feet seemed every where; They scarcely touched the floor at all, But twinkled io the air. Her entrechat, her fairy pas, Filled William with delight; She whirled around, his heart did bound— Twas true love at first sight, Be sought her out and married her; Of course, she left the stage, And in his daily parish work With William did engage.