Life, 1902-05-15 · page 13 of 20
Life — May 15, 1902 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces mocking American society and imperialism: **"Unmade History"** appears to reference U.S. military campaigns (likely the Philippines or similar colonial conflicts), sarcastically praising a commander who ordered brutal tactics ("Shoot the dogs!") against indigenous populations. The satire criticizes both the violence and Americans' casual celebration afterward—the bitter irony being that colonial "civilization" involved mass killing. **"American Spirit"** mocks wealthy American women seeking to marry titled European nobility for social status. The joke turns when a woman, refused a duke, indignantly refuses to attend the coronation—satirizing American entitlement and mercenary attitudes toward European aristocracy. **"Kansas Baby"** jokes darkly about agricultural depression, imagining an infant prophesying famine while making a pun about railroad stocks ("Missouri Pacific"). The cartoon at top, "Opening Up for the Summer Season at 'Bughatton,'" depicts insects in a mock-vacation resort, likely anthropomorphic social commentary, though specific targets are unclear. The page also includes romantic poetry ("Im Frühlingzeit") contrasting sharply with the cynical prose pieces.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ : Uni a 4i/ fil “iy UY, Ser a 2s tl = BSN OUs-Dians-B OPENING UP YOR THE SUMMER SEASON AT “BUGHATTAN.” Im Friihlingzeit. BLITHE of heart and light oftread, At nightfall home I go, Along the steep and narrow street, Where, in a shabby row, The tall old houses of the past Together huddling lean, — For at the top of one of them She dwells, — Rosine! Far up beyond the mossy eaves, Up, up, and higher still, There where a scarlet tulip blooms Upon the window sill, A tiny garret near the sky Is all her poor demesne, — And yet it seems a little bit Of heaven, Rosine! Vain would it be for me to set My foot upon the stair That leads to such a holy spot ; I may not enter there. But do not gentle spirits leave Sometimes their state serene And come with tender messages To us, Rosine? Ah, yes! ‘The day dies in the West, The silver twilight-tide Steals on, until the dingy street Is touched and glorified. And sce, an angel flutters down ! Not with a dazzling sheen Of wings, but in the faded frock I love, Rosine. For us the miracle is wrought. What April fails to bring Its sweet recurrent ecstasy Of youth and hope and spring? The sombre city buds and flowers, ‘And arm in arm between The fairy aisles of Paradise We walk, Rosine! MEL W. Unmade History. THE task of extending the blessings of liberty to less favored peoples was not always easy. Once, for in- stance, a race was encountered whose women and children, such was their physical vigor, could not be killed off by the process of reconcentration ; anyway, not fast enough to satisfy the taxpayers. But fortunately a brilliant and re- sourceful man commanded in the field that year. «Shoot the dogs!'’ said he. So, after all, it was not very long until London was en fete, celebrating the end of the war. American Spirit. HEN the American girl went to buy a titled husband in order to have a seat at the coronation, the man at the window told her there was nothing left but a few old barons in the back row. “But,”’ protested the American girl, ‘speculators outside are offering dukes !"" The man merely shrugged his shoul- ders. “I won't be imposed on! I just naturally shan’t go to your old corona- tion!” the American girl exclaimed, and flounced from the place. It was plain the man had not looked for anything like this ; he was palpably disconcerted. HE papers lately told of a Kansas baby that began to speak at the age of three days, and said repeatedly, “Seven years of famine for Kansas."” The farmers thereabouts are all selling their farms, the papers said. Tompkins says it is merely a case of congenital defect, the baby being born short of Missouri Pacific. comicbooks.com