Life, 1901-04-18 · page 3 of 22
Life — April 18, 1901 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 319 This page contains a poem titled "Cuba Libre" (Spanish for "Free Cuba"), a political rallying cry from the Spanish-American War era. The verses reference sailing from Tampa Bay, sinking ships, and invoke "Cuba Libre" as a repeated refrain—celebrating American military action to liberate Cuba from Spanish colonial rule. The accompanying sketch shows a woman in period dress holding a large flag or banner, likely personifying Cuba itself or American idealism about Cuban freedom. Below is a separate cartoon labeled "Funstonobia" mocking General Frederick Funston, a prominent military figure. It satirizes his purported obsession with disease and military command, playing on contemporary concerns about tropical diseases during the Cuban campaign. The overall page promotes American interventionism in Cuba circa 1898.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Grandma Sheep: DANCED THAT WAY WHEN I Cuba Libre. “WHEX we sailed from Tampa Bay, (Cuba Libre!) And our ships got under weigh, (Cuba Libre!) As we floated down the 5 Crowding to the steamer's side, You remember how we crie “ Cuba Libre!” When we spied the island shore, ( Cuba Libre!) Then we shouted loud once more, * Cuba Libre!” ‘As we sank Cervera’s ships Where the southern sea-wall dips, What again was on our lips? * Cuba Libre!” ‘These are foreign word: “ Cuba Libre: That we used so long ago; (Cuba Libre!) And in all the time between Such a lot of things we've seen, We've forgotten what they mean, “Cuba Libre!” Let us ask the President, (Cuba Libre!) ‘What that bit of Spanish meant, ** Cuba Libre!” Ask McKinley. Root and Hay What on earth we meant to say When we shouted night and day, “ Cuba Libre!" But alas! they will not speak, (Cuba Libre!) For their memories are weak, (Cuba Libre!) If you have a lexicon, Borowed trom a Spanish don, Send it down to Washington, (Cuba Libre!) you know— Ernest Crosby. Uy io V Vy ig MY aiee Ut tgy HOW PERFECTLY SHOCKING! 1'M SURE WE NEVER A GIRL, “WOW LONG MUST I KEEP PRAYING POR YOU AND Papa?!” “WHY; 1 HOPE ALWAYS, WILLIE.” “WELL, I'VE BEEN ASKING GOD TO MAKE YOU MORE INDULGENT, BUT 1 DON'T NOTICE ANY CHANGE.” Funstonobia. OX sharp attack of this disease seems to have conquered our President and laid him on his back. — Fortu- nately the disease is not con- tagious. Should it continue to spread, however, the result would be disastrous. Every de- tecti_ > who hunted down and on ;ficked his man would be made Commander-in-Chief of regulars,and there would soon be no privates. A Way Out. (THE POET: I am afraid I've unwittingly changed my pegasus into a mule, he is 80 obstinate. Tue Poet's Wir Why don’t you change him into an ass, and write something for the magazines? comicbooks.com