Life, 1903-09-10 · page 8 of 20
Life — September 10, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two sections: **Left side:** "Real Artists" sketches showing buildings from British locations (Stratford, Burns Birthplace, Mount Vernon, The Acropolis), labeled as "Leaves from my Sketchbook" with dates from 1908-1910. These appear to be architectural drawings by a contributor. **Right side:** "The Ballad of the Walking Delegate"—a satirical poem mocking labor disputes. The narrative describes a arrogant union official ("walking delegate") who makes unreasonable demands on employers and workers, ultimately causing a strike that bankrupts the business owner. The satire criticizes union corruption and overreach, suggesting that aggressive labor negotiation tactics backfire and harm everyone involved, reflecting early 20th-century anti-union sentiment common in mainstream American publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Real Artists. [Uy 2O8 hee pretty shoulders, After the season's fun, s Kitty views some fine tattoos By Upenwork & Sun LEAVES FROM MY SKETCH-BOOK STRATFORD A.D. 190 BURNS BIRTHPLACE] ENTRANCE THROUGH THe CARNIEGAL MOUNT VERNON The Ballade of the Walking Delegate. Ot it was a walking delegate, a haughty man was he, And he was the business agent for a union, don't you see? He didn't do the toiling and the moiling in the sun, but ‘tis he's the one wh ured how the toiling should be done. There were certain men fur this thing, there were certain men for that, He'd a handy set of arbitrary rulings in his hat ; Aud if one who handled lumber just as much ay touched a bric There was likely to be trouble and ‘twas likely to be quick ! For the haughty walking delegate was there to see that none Should do anything at all, but just as he would have it done. Now the man who hired the workers, and the man who paid them ve a blessed thing with all his journeymen to do. «1 to espy one who on slouchy work was bent, Ob, he didn't dare to fire him till he had the full consent Of the natty business agent with his men for this and that, And his handy set of arbitrary rulings in his hat; For if he who paid the toilers of himself should make a kicl There was likely to be trouble and ‘twas likely to be quick ! For the haughty walking delegate was there to see that none Interfered with him in showing how the work was to be done, Now the man who paid the toilers, should he find the work was slow, Aud he felt like telling some one he must hurry up or go; If the job was hanging heavy, and the contract time was nigh, Should he offer a suggestion as to how to make things fly— Then the haughty business agent would be chillingly severe, And would take the meck proposal with the very slightest sneer, Until all upon the building, Hezekiah, Hans and Dick, Felt that trouble was a-brewing, and ‘twas likely to be quick! For the haughty walking delegate was there to see that none lnsertered with him in showing how the work wasto be done! But one day the walking delegate got tumbled off his shelf, For the man who paid the toilers told him he could chase himself. He would run (he said) his business as he used to do of yore, And he'd take no domineering (luis expression) any more. And the natty business agent with the rulings in his hat, Why, the boss's proposition for a moment knocked him flat an’ it’s goin’ to be qui sate he called a strike, you bet, pt, and the men are loafing yet ! McCarthy. PARTHENON Senin > Tne CARNES Aare Tre ACROPOLIS Ae. 1910 comicbooks.com