Life, 1899-11-02 · page 13 of 20
Life — November 2, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"An Overworked Administration"** satirizes a U.S. presidential administration (appears to be early 20th century, likely Theodore Roosevelt era based on context) as dysfunctional and absent. A visiting guest trying to tour Washington cannot meet the President or any cabinet secretary—each is away campaigning or speechmaking in various states. The joke escalates absurdly, ending with even the White House janitor being unavailable due to exhaustion. The satire attacks the administration for prioritizing partisan political campaigning over actual governance. Cabinet members should be at their posts, not stumping for "the party" across America. By the punchline, the implication is that the entire government has abandoned its responsibilities for electoral advantage. **"Polite"** is a brief, separate joke about restaurant service etiquette—a sarcastic guest, ignored for thirty minutes, sardonically "requests" a waiter's attention while acknowledging it will "disturb your system." The page includes zodiac illustrations unrelated to the political content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. SAGITTAKICS — NOVEMBER, An Overworked Administration. HE HOST (of Washington, D. C.): Well, what would you like to do to-day ? Tue Guest: 1 believe I'd like to sce the President, if it isn't too much trouble, . Host: Sorry, old man, but I’m afraid it is; he’s out West defend- ing his policy. Guest: Well; then, I'd like to shake hands with the Secretary of State, Host: Too bad, but he’s in Ohio making campaign speeches. Guest: Well, the Secretary of War? Surely he ought to be on hand. Host: He's in Nebraska whooping it up for the party. Guest: The Secretary of the Navy ? Host: He's giving prosperity a boost in Kansas. 353 Guest: The Attorney-General? Host: He's out in Kentucky, blazing a trail to victory. Guest: ‘The Postmaster Gencral ? Host: He's addressing the males of Penn- sylvania, Guest: The Secretary of Agriculture? Host; He's away too, somewheres, cul- tivating party loyalty. Guest: Well, the Secretary of the Interior? Host: That's where he is, in the interior some place, inspiring patriotism in the people. Guest (sarcastically): Huh! Well, say, let’s run up and get a look at the janitor of the White House. I'm bound to see a member of this Administration, and I suppose his duties keep him here, anyways, Host: Jt is too bad, old man, and I’m awfully sorry, but he's been so overworked lately that he's gone off fora week's fishing. . Alex, Ricketts, Polite. EAD WAITER: Shall I send a waiter to wait on you, sir? Guest (who has been waiting in vain for thirty minutes): I am compelled to request this extreme privilege, even though I know it disturbs your system. E who takes the sword shall perish by the sword, and the President who works a war for political capital is liable to be displaced by a martial hero. STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY, A KING FISHER, books.com