Life, 1899-11-09 · page 15 of 20
Life — November 9, 1899 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Political Cartoon:** The photograph titled "Life's Album of Friendships" depicts Paul Kruger (Boer leader) and Joseph Chamberlain (British Colonial Secretary), satirizing their opposition during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). The juxtaposition mocks their irreconcilable differences. **"Boer and Briton" Essay:** The accompanying text offers wry commentary on the conflict. It defends the Boers against British characterizations as "degenerate" and "lazy," noting sardonically that if they mount a serious resistance, they'll prove less degenerate than claimed. It critiques American sympathy for the Boers while warning that British military setbacks would trigger Anglo-Saxon solidarity among Americans—exposing their selective morality. **"Proved!" Humor Piece:** An unrelated anecdote about a lion-tamer's wife. He claims he slept in the lion cage to avoid her; she calls him "coward," suggesting even lions are preferable company to her domination—a domestic satire on marital tyranny.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE'S ALBUM OF FRIENDSHIPS. PAUL KRUGER AND JOSEPH CUAMRERLAIN, Boer and Briton. R. SWINBURNE, who lately heaved his lyro at the beads of the Boors to rathor formidable purpose, speaks of their Foul tongues that blacken Gods dishonored name ‘With pratse tarned curses and with praise found share. Nodoubt he does their piety scant justice, though by all accounts it isa queer, out-of- date form of piety, The Boors are spoken of as Old Testament Christians,” which is almost a contradiction in terms, We know what it means, however, The old-time Beotch Covenanters wero of that bre with differences, It is a brood somowbat lacking In amenities, but with a consid-r- able ability to take care of itself and a romarkablo ‘capacity to endure puntsh- ment. Tho Bocrs have suffered from a lack of neighbors, and they are disparaged by their critics as lazy and degencrato, It is going to bo interesting to notice just how do- gonorato they are, If they are too much behind tho times, they won't be able to put upahard fight. If they do put up a hard fight, it will be fair to argue that they aro less degenerato than hag been averred, War is undeniably interesting, especially 375 when somo other chaps pay tho bills and sustain the incidental wear and tear of conscience. It 1angood deal loss distress- Ing, of courso, to see civilization go forward ‘on somo other fellow's powder cart than on one’s own, American sympathy is strong for the Boors, yot if tho English sustain a very serious setback, look out for signs of deep concern in this country. There are somo millions of Americans who have not learned yet not to start when a cry of pain becomes articulate tu Anglo-Saxon, Proved! RAU HINGSTERMEIER, the wife of Herr Hingstermeicr, the lion- tamer, was what may be termed—to put it mildly—a virago, and held Hingster- meicr in absolute subjection. The lion-tamer returned to -the family caravan one evening in a state of hilarity which made him fecl that le would bet- ter postpone an interview with his better- half until his condition had worn off. Ile therefore concluded not to sleep in the family quarters, The next morning his wife called him to account, and-he explained that ho had been having a little jollification and did not wish to disturb her slumbers on his return. “Where did you sleep?” she de- manded, “In the cage with the lions,” he replicd, meekly. “Coward!” hissed Mrs. Hingster- meier, with a look as of one robbed of her just ducs, TANS WANTED.