Life, 1903-05-14 · page 8 of 20
Life — May 14, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces mocking American patriotism and medical advice. **"Patriotic"** (left): The cartoon depicts a rotund figure in military dress, likely representing political corruption or self-interest masquerading as patriotism. The narrator describes forming a "Patriotic Order of American Second-Men" but struggling to recruit genuine patriots. Instead, he enrolls politicians, wealthy industrialists, and others motivated by votes rather than principle. The satire suggests that organized patriotism of the era was hollow—a vehicle for self-promotion rather than genuine civic virtue. **"Too Limited"** (right): A brief dialogue where a doctor advises a patient to walk more for health. The patient protests he already owns an automobile, and the doctor sarcastically suggests he buy another. This mocks the emerging automobile culture and resistance to physical exercise among the wealthy. Both pieces critique American materialism and hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Patriotic. “ZW 2EN I proposed forming @ lodge of the new Patriotic Order of American Sec- ond-Men (minute-men always seemed to me too slow for America), I was laughed at by those who claimed to know the village thor- oughly well. “There's no material here,” objected they. “Patriotism is dead.” I thought I knew better. Before I had been canvassing twenty-four hours, I found five men and six women who were dying to be prominent, yet did not enjoy working. Of these I formed the nucleus of the lodge. To be sure, there were only nine of- fices to be filled, but I got around that by speaking vaguely of the two delegates which it would be necessary to send to the national assembly of the order each year. The next day I discovered eight politicians who would do anything fora vote. I enrolled them as ordinary mem- bers. Still I was not content. ~ [kept pegging away, and in the course of a week I secured the names of twenty-five persons who had heard of the Monroe Doctrine, had no idea what it was, and believed it to be in great dan- ger. These brought the total membership up to forty-four. It was precisely ten days after I set foot in the place that I or- ganized the new lodge. Of course patriotism was not dead. eqn Too Limited. “7 OU must do more walk- ~ ing.’” “But, doctor, I already have an automobile.” “ Well, get another.” “omacious! so THaT’s a PRigp Eco? Just THINK, I MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE THAT IPT HADN'T A BEEN PUT INTO AN INCUBATOR.” IP THEODORE KOOSEVELT'S ANCESTORS MAD STAYED AT MOME. comicbooks.com