Life, 1904-03-03 · page 17 of 38
Life — March 3, 1904 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of early 20th-century American political satire: **"The Reformation of Cohen"** is a poem mocking immigrant political volatility. It traces one Cohen through successive ideological phases—Nihilist, Communist, Republican—suggesting immigrants carelessly adopted whatever political ideology suited their economic circumstances. The satire targets both the immigrants' perceived instability and the wealthy interests ("Mammon's advocate") they eventually served. **"Modern Anecdotes"** contains two brief jokes: one mocking Emperor William II's diplomatic evasiveness about the Russo-Japanese War, and another about Senator Gorman's pessimism regarding Judge Alton Parker's Democratic presidential chances. The final joke appears to be wordplay about someone's financial status ("on his uppers" vs. "on his spats"). The main illustration shows a society gathering, likely depicting the Cohen narrative or contemporary social climbing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
right. 1994. by Life Pubtisding Co The Reformation of Cohen. (QOMEN was a Nibilist / Inthe hu day, When he worked at s ing rags Down on Bowery way Coben was a Communist, (Very mild of When he had a AlLhis very own Cohen was Republican Mammon’s adve When he joined his factory To a syndicate *LIPE « 23 power To control The M Wallace Irwin, Modern Anecdotes. EMPEROR WILLIAM had paused i moment at the front door of the Schloss, ‘How does Germany stand on the Russo-Japan situation ?" we inquired. “With considerable effort,” he re- plied in menai tones. ‘It is all she can do to keep from sitting down on it hard.” Pleased with his frankness we wished him good morning, and pro- ceeded on our way. ENATOR GORMAN was comin; own the steps of the Capitol. t do you think of the chances Parker, of New York, for the cratic Presidential nomination?” “I don't think of tiem," he re- sponded sadly. “I prefer to think of more agri le things.”” Realizing that we had unwittingly red sorrow, we re- intruded upon a sa spectfully withdrew. “ JOHNNY TAURUS is on his uppers, I he: “No. He's on his spats.”