Life, 1899-10-12 · page 13 of 20
Life — October 12, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), a powerful Civil War veterans' organization, for aggressive pension-seeking. The framing device uses an Oriental tale where a "Cadi" (Islamic judge) questions why a G.A.R. man demands free lodging and board. The satire targets veteran entitlement: despite receiving regular pay, bounties, pensions, and pension increases during their service, the G.A.R. man still demands more—and threatens to re-elect "Comrade McKinley" (likely President William McKinley) to secure additional benefits. The joke satirizes how veterans leveraged political power to extract ever-expanding government compensation. The top illustration shows theatrical actors, suggesting Life intended predictions about how prominent figures might respond to Sara's (unclear reference) example—possibly suggesting actors would adopt similar shameless demands for public compensation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
W. H. Crane as Marie Stuart.” Robert Kelsey as“ Ltitle Boa.” 48 PROMINENT ACTORS SEEM TO BE INSPIRED BY SARA'S EXAMPLE, LIFE VENTURES 4 FEW PREDICTIONS. “M USTAPHA,” said the Cadi, as he settled down on the carpet of justice and put bis turban on straight, “who is this unpleasant-looking object that I sce before me ?” “That,” replied Mustapha, with a look of disgust, ‘isa G.A R. man, He was found making a disturbance because the landlord of the Walledoff-Twelve- storia wouldn't give him free lodging, free board and free drinks.” Now, by the sacred hair oil of the Prophet's beard, why hast thou done this thing, slave 2” “Because I saved the country, ob, well spring of goodness, and, if we eav- fors of the country don’t sce what we want, we are not afraid to ask for it.” “True, slave; the modesty of the G.A.R. is as well known to us as the sacred truths of the Koran, But didn’t you draw pay for saving the country ?” “ We did, your highness, with unfail- ing regularity.” “ And bounty ?” “And bounty.” “And haven't you bad pensions, and arrears of pensions, and increase of pen- sions, and extension of pensions, until the public treasury groans under your exac- tions?” « Not half enongh, your highness, and not half as much as we shall have, if we can re-elect Comrade McKinley.” ** And do you not have one day in the year when you bave the entire say-so, and books.com