Life, 1904-05-19 · page 25 of 28
Life — May 19, 1904 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising** (Rambler and Franklin automobiles), but includes a lengthy comic poem mocking **Russo-Japanese tensions and ethnic stereotypes**. The poem satirizes Russian soldiers in Manchuria (during the Russo-Japanese War era) through the figure of an elderly Chinese woman, "Barbarowski Fritchovitz," who defends a Japanese flag. The satire works through **exaggerated mock-Russian gibberish** ("Shootee," "dieski," "oneski") and absurdist humor—a Russian captain becomes so embarrassed by an old woman's defiance that he compares his shame to losing Japanese currency. The joke relies on period **ethnic caricature and malapropism**, portraying Russians as comically inept and dramatic, while the woman's final musing about cornering the "birds'-nest soup" market is nonsensical wordplay typical of early 1900s humor. The poem's appeal lay in mocking foreign conflict through exaggerated dialect and absurdity—humor that would perplex modern readers unfamiliar with early-20th-century attitudes toward both the Russo-Japanese conflict and theatrical ethnic stereotyping.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
16 horse power complete with canopy top, side basket, horn and lamps, only $1,350.00 at the factory. eho’ Touring Cars represent absolutely the highest values— our reputation is back of them. @ Eight models, $650.09 to $1,390.00 at the factory. THOMAS B, JEFFERY & COMPANY Kenosha, Wisconsin, U. 8. A. Chicago Beasch, 204 Wabash Arron 7 Boston Braoch, 145 Columbus Aveove Barbarowski Fritchovitz. LMOST hidden beneath the snow, Tossed by March winds to and fro, The fragile huts of Ping Yang stand Out in the Hermit Kingdom land, And to this quiet little glen ‘There came a troop of Russian men ; ‘The knee-deep snow they waded through, And having nothing else to do, Into a thousand threads they tore Japanese banners by the score. But one old lady stopped the men (Her age was just three-score and ten), And with clenched fists she gave them fits— "Twas Barbarowski Fritchovitz. She took a flag torn by the men And quickly tacked it up again To show that she was loyal yet To old Japan—lest they forget. This angered Captain Barbersitch, And ina high raucous pitch, “Halt! Aim! Fire! he told his men, “Rats! Fudge! Lobsters 1" screamed Barb just then, A loud report! The flag’s in bits! But Barbarowski Fritchovitz, She grabs it up and takes a stand Up at her window, flag in hand. “Shootee, if mustee, me knotty-top But dissy flagee ‘ll nevvy dlop.” The captain felt like thirty yen And started on his march again, Saying : * Whoski touches oneski gray hair On thatshi red head dieski like a bear.” : And as the Russians left the town Barbara stood with head bowed down And mumbled : ‘ Meow yoni bleens,” Which, translated, simply means : “Had I the whiskers of that troop, I'd corner the market in birds'-nest soup.” —F. P. Pitser, in New York Times. We Began Right The main features of the Franklin engine—four- cylinder and air-cooling—will be the standard for all time. Some good cars are beginning to use four-cylinders ; others will next year, in spite of the cost of changing. Air-cooling is the next step, and it must be taken, although it will cost the makers thousands of dollars to learn how (as we have learned) and thousands more to make new patterns, new models and new tools. We took this step at the start. We began right. Send for catalogue that tells what's right and why. H. H. FRANKLIN MFG. CO., 311 Geddes Street, Syracuse, N. Y. ‘ Member Association Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. PEGGY LIFE has just published a series of twelve of MR. GILBERT'S HEADS, of which the accompanying illustrations are miniatures. Each head is an oval, 8x11, carefully printed in tone on tinted, heavy paper, and mounted ready for framing on heavy green boards. Size, 15 x 19. Price, 50c. Each. Post Free LIFE PUBLISHING CO. 17 West 31st St., New York City comicbooks.com