Life, 1901-02-21 · page 5 of 20
Life — February 21, 1901 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 145 The page contains three distinct sections: 1. **"The Recessional"** — A poem by Joseph Smith addressing British military forces, referencing "Lord Hobs" (likely Lord Roberts, a British general). It mocks soldiers for celebrating despite military setbacks, repeatedly stating "So is DeWet—So is DeWet," referencing Boer general Christiaan De Wet. The poem appears satirical commentary on the ongoing Boer War. 2. **"His Essay"** — A humorous dialogue where a teacher criticizes a student ("Johnny Thickskull") for writing about George Washington instead of assigned topics, mocking the student's resistance to instruction. 3. **"Noblesse Oblige"** — A brief satirical exchange about social pretension and wealth. The illustrations are period sketches. This page satirizes both military overconfidence during the Boer War and educational pomposity, typical of Life's turn-of-century humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee IN A WHISPER. The Girt; now IN THE WORLD DORKS UE MANAGE TO LIVE BY PAINTING? “UE DOESN'T. Ih MANAGES TO LIVE IN SPITE OF IIIS PAINTING.” His Essay. THICKNECK,” severely said the teacher of the v school, **I tola you to write a four- “7TCHN e Country, and you have handed me yames?—and that’s all he ever done, tour sheets of paper without a single ma'am, that I know of.” word or letter on them, except the — heading, ‘ All About George Washing- [He canteen—an influence for good ton’! What do you mean, sir, by —oes. The two-cent check stamp —an incentive to profanity — “You told me to write something stays. And of such is the wisdom of such disrespectful conduct?” different from the rest, ma’am, dog- Congress. gedly replied the culprit, “and to leave out the cherry-tree, could a-he, and crossin’-the-Delaware-River lage stories, and not to mention that he was first in peace, first in war, and page composition on the Father of His fpyt in the hearts of his what's-their- The Retrocessional. Ces of th Tribe of the loi Beneath whose flag of blood Bi ackal and the vulture d Lord Bobs, So is DeW 1, braggart, scold, d battle line, a The tumult and the shouting die— The drunken Cockneys home depart ; The orphan’s grief, the widow's sigh, The glory of the broken heai Lord Bobs, these ghosts are with you yet.— So 1s DeWet—So 1s DeWet. Far-called, your armies melt away Before the freeman's Mauser fi Lo, all your pomp of yesterday Is draggled in the Transvaal mire, Jibe of the Nations! Spared as yet, Beware DeWet—Beware De Wet. Sti drunk with dregs of power, you loose Wild tongues that speak of baffled greed. Such boasting as pal Who owe their safety to their speed. Lord Bobs, your boasts make langht Where rides DeWet—W e eray use For British hearts who. In greed, dishonor, pride and power, There waits Disnaster’s acrid dust, Humiliation’s bitter hour. Lord Bot ir hosts are still beset By bola DeWet—Ly bold DeWet Joseph Smith, Noblesse Oblige. “<©V\7 HAT are you staring at, W Nellic?”" 2 « Oh, please, ma’am, with your hair like that and your diamonds, you do look so like Lady Plantaganet Gingham that I was own maid to! Are youany relation, ma’am? **No—at least, no near relation. But you can have that pink silk sbirt- waist of mine, Nellie.” x A MATTER OF TASTE. 1MET A GOAT, AND SAID TO MDM, “OTHE QUESTION, PRAY, EXCUSE WHY DO YOU ALWAYS WAG YouR CHIN?” QvoTit ne, “ nECAUSE 1 CHEWS!”