Life, 1900-11-29 · page 7 of 20
Life — November 29, 1900 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 427 This page contains two distinct items: **"Bravo, James!"** discusses a newspaper story about James Curtis, a man who rescued a kitten from a burning tenement building in Jersey City despite firefighters' warnings. The text humorously suggests Curtis might make a good Presbyterian minister based on his moral character and willingness to risk danger for a helpless creature. **"Bryan's Future"** satirizes Colonel William Jennings Bryan, the three-time presidential candidate and prominent politician. The piece mocks speculation that Bryan might become a Presbyterian minister, analyzing his suitability for the role. It suggests his oratorical talents and moral conviction could suit preaching, though notes his actual career trajectory remains uncertain. Both items use the kitten rescue anecdote to humorously explore Bryan's potential religious vocation.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIPE- ap panded and continued beyond all imaginable expectation. Anyhow, Bryan in the pulpit would be a mighty interest- ing experiment, and if it succeeded, who can be sure that our Theodore might not send his spurs and revolver to the auction block and hie him to the pulpit too? Bravo, James! FEW days ago, we saw ina daily paper that while a tenement house in Jersey City was burning, a boy, James Curtis, “ appeared on the scene. He was in great distress and cried that a kitten he had left in the shop should be burned to death. He was told the kitten had escaped. Curtis said it could not get out because he had wrapped it in a coat and put it in a desk. Despite the warnings of the firemen he plunged into the building, which then was filled with smoke, though not burning. Five minutes later he reappeared with tho kitten in his arms. The crowd cheered him heartily as he ran home with his kitten, careless as to whether the buildings burned or not.”” 4 yns, MY SON, TWO BINDS IN TUE BUSH ARE wonTHL That boy is all right. O80 is cus Ha Later on he will do a similar thing for his mother or his best girl, if necessary. Bryan’s Future. NOLONEL SOMEBODY, of Mis- a souri, is quoted in the papers as being pretty sure that Colonel Bryan will make his next ap- rance as a Presbyterian minister. Bryan is a very ~ religious man, this colonel says, and he is confident that the ministry will be | his choice. | Bryan is an exemplary man in many particulars, and might make a good minister. His heart is right enough, so far as we know, and he need not delay for changes in it. There is a good deal of dynamite in the gospels, and it is perfectly conceivable that it would suit him to throw some of it around, and if he did, no doubt he would throw it to hit. It is suggested that he should become an editor, but though his pen is a good enough tool, it is his voice that is his great instrument. He ought to make a good jury lawyer, but it is said that law doesn’t attract him. He might go to the Senate, but he says he won't. It does not seem likely that he will turn preacher, but if he does, there are a number of us who will go to hear him preach at least once, to see what he makes of it. The preacher's job, which is to make people good, deals more with the roots of things than even the statesman’s job, which is to maintain good government. If the folks are good enough their government will be good enough, whereas the reverse doesn’t always follow. Birrell says that John Wesley did far more for England than any statesman of his century. If Colonel Bryan has really got the root of the matter in him, and turns preacher, it is pos- sible that a career which now seems closed, may be ex- DISCOURAGING. “DON'T YOU THINK YOU COULD LEARW TO LovE ME?” “oll DEAR, NO. 1°M SO STUPID 1 CAN'T LEARN ANYTHING.”