Life, 1900-01-04 · page 7 of 20
Life — January 4, 1900 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 7 The main illustration, captioned "Life's Presidential Prognostication for 1900," depicts an elephant balanced precariously on a tower of stacked blocks. The elephant likely represents the Republican Party (the GOP mascot), suggesting uncertainty about the coming 1900 presidential election. The accompanying text is a debate between an unnamed speaker and a bishop about Christian belief and hypocrisy. The bishop is criticized for preaching poverty while living comfortably—a satire on religious hypocrisy. Below is a brief joke section titled "External, Internal and Eternal Possession" mocking the Boer War ("whipped cream"), likely referencing British military struggles in South Africa. The page blends political prophecy with social/religious commentary typical of Life's satirical format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE: 7 LIFE’S PRESIDENTIAL PROGNOSTICATION FOR, 1900. yot I cannot say that any other firm belict has takon the placo of that which I still profess. My position is yet one of doubt. Thero are times when I am not sure, after all, but tho old belief is right, when tho full influence of my whole environmott is upon mo; for instance, when Tam exhorting or consoling. But alone, I know that {cannot be. Thus I lead a double life. Often I foel that I must speak out, that I must say I do not beliove what I preach — yet that is impossible.” “You mean disagrecable,” I suggested, “More than that,” sald tho bishop. “ My course 18 not #0 cowardly as you Infer, Think of tho consternation such a radical action on my part would create in others who are oven as Iam, I have also my family to consider.” I nodded sympathotically. “Yet, bishop,” I continued, “admitting that there are reasons for what I might term your attitude of acquiescence, I have a still moro prossing criticism to profor. Even in your own chosen fleld you are not consistent ; and you fail here from precisely tho samo causo that you fail in the other respect — your cowardice, Stripped of all theological verbiage, your fundamental professed belief is extremely simple, It is to follow tho ono Great Precedent — to sacrifice yourself for others, Yet, Lecauso there are other precedents nearer, they have risen between and established your attitude, You‘are exclusive, The fashionable folk near to you aro no doubt soothed by the refined and cheering sentiments that fall from your lips, but vulgarity and poverty pass you by. They would not necessarily be unwelcome if they came, and would no doubt be sur- prised at your sympathy; but your manner of lifo is forbidding to them, Knowledge need not dobar you from associating with meaner clay, but luxury does. Suppose I should get up in church next Sunday, and, polnting to you, I should say: ‘This man Is a humbug. He does not believe what he preaches, but dares not be honest and say 80 because ho shrinks from criticism, Decauso ho Is too selfish, and because ho has a family to support. Not only this, but his whole manner of life 1s utterly opposed to tho bald Christian croed, which bids a man forsake all and live in poverty. He is a liar anda hypocrite,’ What do you suppose would happen?” “ My friond,” said the bishop, “you have lost sight of ono thing. It may be irrelevant, but it is im- portant.” “And what may that bo?” I inquired. ‘Tho bishop smiled. “Simply this,” ho replied. “You havo utterly forgotten that I am puroly a fictitious personage.” External, Internal and Eternal Possession. UOTER: You can’t eat your cake and have it. Dysreptic: The deuce you can't, «¢7 SEE that the cream of the British army is now in the Transvaal,” “Yes, the whipped cream.”