Life, 1901-02-07 · page 15 of 20
Life — February 7, 1901 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes prominent figures of the era through text commentary rather than traditional political cartoons. **Main targets:** 1. **William Randolph Hearst** (New York Journal owner): Mocked for accusing the New York World of copying his sensational methods while practicing yellow journalism himself. Life suggests Hearst's real problem is that the World won't abandon truth-telling and exaggeration as he has. 2. **Hugh McLaughlin** (Brooklyn political boss): Quoted attacking Bishop Potter's vice-crusade as hypocritical class-based morality—condemning beer/whiskey as "vice" while ignoring champagne served in cut-glass at elite clubs. Life sarcastically agrees the practice is serious but demands McLaughlin provide evidence rather than mere hearsay. The illustration labeled "On a Prehistoric Farm" appears decorative, depicting primitive humans with cattle—likely unrelated to the text commentary. **Core satire:** Exposing hypocrisy among powerful men (a newspaper magnate promoting sensationalism; a politician selectively enforcing morality based on class).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SY .Sesbun ON A Phemistonic rans. redounding to the credit of the Lycebocker; for the perform- ance affected me as a species of theatrical hysteronproteron, an inverting of the natural order of action as I have observed it at the Thespian temple of which I have spoken; the leading woman was a disappointing contrast to my present peregrinating ideal—and there were no green- liveried ushers in ebon moulding. Ah me, there was bat one Rehan and but one House of Rehan. M® HEARST, of the New|York Journal, is miffed because, as he charges, the New York World is copy- ing the ideas and the methods of the Journal. Mr. Hearst offers a prize to anyone who will offer a certain way of stopping the World from continuing its policy of assimila- tion of Journal ideas, Lire would suggest that Mr. Hearst try printing nothing but the truth, that he drop the yellow sensationalism that is built up on exaggeration and false- hood, and that he print a newspaper that a decent man can take into his home. The only obstacle in the way of such a course is that it is probably inconsistent with Journal ideals as to what a modern newspaper should be. J UGH McLAUGHLIN, the eminent Brooklyn boss, does not believe in Bishop Potter's vice crusade. He is in Florida recruiting his energies, and is quoted as saying: When you have whiskey or beer on Sunday, and the Bishop aces it, it's vice; bat when the beer and whiskey Is champagne at the club tn cut-giass decanters, the Bishop nas nothing to say. Serving champagne in cut-glass decanters isa pretty seri- ousoffense. If Hughcan prove itagainst any club, on Sun- days or weekdays, something ought to be done about it. But such a charge ought not to be loosely made on mere hearsay. Let Hugh produce his evidence, and maybe the Bishop will take action. No club can afford to sit down meekly under the charge that it serves champagne in cut- glass decanters. comicbooks.com