Life, 1902-04-17 · page 13 of 22
Life — April 17, 1902 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Price of Khaki"** is a protest poem (credited to Arlo Rates) against British military spending, likely referencing the Boer War (1899-1902). "Khaki" refers to the uniform color and, by extension, militarism itself. The poem argues that warfare's true cost isn't financial but moral—lost honor, dead soldiers, bereaved families, and concentration camp victims ("pestilent camps" likely references British camps in South Africa). The satire condemns how nations rationalize these human costs as necessary expenses. **"Off the Stage"** is a brief theatrical joke: an actress performed poorly until her costumes improved, then succeeded—suggesting appearance matters more than talent. **"Learning and Lucre"** discusses wealthy industrialists (Mrs. Stanford, Rockefeller) endowing universities. The author worries that when education depends on wealthy donors' approval, universities become servants to money rather than engines of genuine social progress. The anecdote about Garfield suggests authentic education needs only a great teacher, not vast wealth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Price of Khaki. Khakt has advanced tn price.—London paper. H, what is the price of khaki khaki in London town? The costis high, for when nations Fate never puts prices down! They to the utmost jot must pay; Time audits the account ; And till Judgment Day no man may say How mighty the amount. Oh, what is the price of khaki, of khaki in London town? The price is ruth, and the price is truth, And England's fair renown. ‘Tis justice spurned in the lust of gain; It is pestilence, rapine and dearth ; It is mercy slain and the ghastly stain Of blood that cries from the earth. Ob, what is the price of khaki, of khaki in London town? It is measureless blame and undying shame, And a curse that will not down. It is freemen hunted like wolvesin drives, Or dead in Bahama's damps ; It is countless lives of mothers and wives And children in pestilent camps. Oh, this is the price of khaki, of khaki in London town. ‘Tis a shameful cost where honor is lost, And manhood trampled down. ‘The debt she makes must England pay, Though long runs the account ; ‘Though till Judgment Day no man may say How mighty the amount. Arlo Rates, RECENT FICTION, “TUR MAN PROM GLENGARRY." OFF THE STAGE. ‘She (of the ballef) ; You DIDN'T ACT AT Finst A# 17 YOU KNEW ME. He: WRut, YOUR CLOTHES MISLED NE. Learning and Lucre. MES: STANFORD gives her untveraity thirty militons, and there 1g no Intimation that thirty are too many. It has been reported that Mr. Rockefeller bas it in mind to bestow twenty- 41x millions and some odd thousands on his unt- versity, by way of completing its endowment ; And while those who should know deny that Mr. Rockefeller entertains any such purpose, It 18 not denied that It would take about twenty six millions to put the University of Chicago in the way of doing what ts called the best work. ‘The suggestion that tt requires a great deal of money to make a university ts not altogether Pleasant, The common spectacle of edacatton a supplicant at the feet of Mammon, 80 to speak, 18 calculated to disquiet those who look to education to facilitate the process of soctal evolution. There are likely to be times again, as there have been times tn the past, when progress does not com- maud the enthustastic approbation of Mammon, And if education ts to be his servile handmalden, We shall presently have education arrayed against progress. It was Garfield (was {t not?) who remarked that bis notion of getting a liberal education was sitting at one end of # log out In the woods with Mark Hopkins at the other end, It {8 perhaps glorious for # university to be rich ; It 1s more glorious to be free. ASPAR: What makes Jimson so sour? Jumpurre: He once had a success he did not merit, and ever since he has been expecting things he does not deserve. e comicbooks.com