Life, 1900-08-30 · page 3 of 20
Life — August 30, 1900 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page features content related to a theatrical extravaganza called "An Air Apparent." The top image shows a rehearsal scene with performers and visible signs/placards, though specific identities are unclear from the image alone. Below is "The New Cry," a patriotic poem addressing Cuba and Philippine independence issues. The verse appears to criticize American imperialism, referencing Cervera's squadron (Spanish-American War), and advocating for Filipino freedom against "Anglo-Saxon" colonial rule. Lines like "We have broken Cervera's squadron / Off of Santiago Bay" reference the 1898 naval battle. The footer notes that verses titled "A Ballad of the Trailing Skirt" were stolen by the *Ladies' Pictorial* and *Evening Sun*, with Life claiming copyright. This is a copyright dispute notice rather than satirical content. The overall page mixes theatrical promotion with anti-imperialist political commentary characteristic of Life magazine's satirical stance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A_Pre The Director BASS-DRUM, AND FIPE, SIR—OR NOTHING.” The New Cry. E have won the fight for Cuba, We set the natives free, And to our joyful bosoms we enfold them ; Oh, we love the noble Cubans, As all the world can see,— And we have a handy army there to hold them. We have burned Cervera’s squadron Off of Santiago Bay, Where the flaming hulks have lit the mid- night sky We have got the lovely islands, And we care not if you say That the palm belongs to Sampson—or to Schley. The Spaniard’s power is broken ; In the East and in the West We have helped his slaves to break the chains that bound them ; We have sworn to give them freedom, But ‘twas only said in jest— And now we'll leave them worse than when we found them, Secont Violin: rou. oF COURSE, KKOW. LIFE dator) Bit fiom the rehearsal oft the ExtravaSan 2. ~An SI. TINA 18 NOT MY REGULAR INSTRUMENT. 1 WAS TOLD IT WAS, WHEN YOU WERE MIRED. “NO, SIR. THE LOCAL MANAGER, MR. PLATT, WHO GOT ME THE JOB, SAID THAT, 'Tis a noble occupation To put down a tyrant foe, And to ransom home his serf to field and plough ; Even though the fool may tell you : “ Sheathe thy sword, let tyrants know Its temper, but be not a tyrant thou!” "Tis true we fought for freedom, For humanity we bled, And we called the world to witness our intentions ; And before a gun was loaded, Or a drop of blood was shed, We confirmed our trusting friends in their pretensions. But, what can a Filipino, Or a swarthy Cuban know Of the noble art of governing his land? Our Anglo-Saxon freedom Is a thing we can’t bestow, And that only Anglo-Saxons understand ! Let us keep our ‘new possessions," Let us carry on the fight ; Let the sun on our dominions e'er be shining. AIR__APPARENT” DE FIDDLE. BD boYs PART. I—I PLAY THE SNARE-DRUM, CYMBALS, TUE Never mind the quibbling traitors Who dispute that might is right, And declare our love of justice is declining ! Let us smite the Filipinos On the mountain and the plain! They have braved us—let us terminate the fuss No! we'll never make them freemen ; ‘They have had to sweat for Spain, And we'll make the little beggars sweat for us! Peter Blackelt, OME verses, entitled ‘ A Ballad of the Trailing Skirt,’ which recently appeared in Lire, were stolen by the Ladies’ Pictorial,and the Ecening Sun ot this town copied them in part from the Pictorial without credit to Lire. The Ecening Sun is not so much to blame as the Ladies’ Pictorial, but the attention of both is called to the fact that the contents of Lire are copy- righted in both the United States and England. comicbooks.com