Life, 1907-08-01 · page 27 of 48
Life — August 1, 1907 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces mocking early 1900s American institutions: **"College Presidents—New Style"** ridicules university leaders who measure success by fundraising rather than education. The fictional presidents (Boggs, Hannis, Webster, Rawbuck) are praised absurdly for raising money—one raised a million dollars in a week *for a dance hall*. The satire suggests that wealthy donors, not scholarship, now define institutional prestige. This reflects real concerns about commercialization of higher education. **"Commodore Peary and His Recent Expedition"** is a joke about Vice-President James Sherman (identified as "Fairbanks" in the text, likely an OCR error). Finding the VP is humorously presented as harder than reaching the North Pole. The reference to "Amalgamated Copper earnings" suggests mystery/secrecy around corporate finances—possibly alluding to Sherman's business connections. The satire implies the VP is obscure and politically irrelevant. **The illustration** shows a couple on a beach; the caption suggests romantic uncertainty about a proposal.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AFTER BRINGING HIM OUT HERE SHE WONDERS WHETHER HE WILL HAVE A Growing Plaint TOOK a share in a garden, And got a dreadful shock, When I found the canny gardener Had watered all the stock. College Presidents—New Style HILANDER BOG D.D., Presi- dent of the University of Arkana, has just received the degree LL.D. from Yarvard. President Boggs, by his recent action in raising $250,000 in three weeks, has well merited this honor and at the same time has placed his institution among the foremost of the land. ‘The University of West Spottsylvania ‘arcely known in the world of edu- cators when Professor Elbert Hannis stepped in at the helm. Under his schol- arly management the board of directors have built the finest college asium in the country and James T. Skinnem, the eminent railroad manipulator, is re- ported to be about to give another five millions. Dr. Lemuel Hicks, Ph.D., President of Biggs College, is generally considered the leading educator of the present day. His latest educational triumph is a magnifi- cent college theatre from J. Q. Johansen, the eminent bed-quilt magnate. When that sterling educator, Boxall was $ Webster, took charge of the Hilldale Sem- inary there was scarcely a dollar in the treasury. Now there are five new build- ings and bequests have been streaming in so fast that it has been necessary to buy a new safe. President Webster is undoubt- edly a leader in modern thought. Lovers of learning will rejoice to hear that Dr. P. Hiram Rawbuck, the schol- President of Hawkins College, has just received the degree of Litt. D. from his alma ma President Rawbuck’s reputation in the field of letters was made last spring, when he raised a million dol- lars in seven days for the new students’ dance hall. In Farthest North Commodore Peary and His Recent Expe- dition L' is glad to report that Commo- dore Peary has been successful in his exploring trip. He was persuaded to give up his at- tempt to find the North Pole, on consid- eration of something much more hazard- s been out trying to reach Vice-President Fairbanks. The expedition was fully equipped. The Vice-President has always been an inscrutable mystery. It was thought that SAND ENOUGH TO PROPOSE if the truth were given to the world Amer- ica would receive the benefit. Commodore Peary started out in the Roosevelt. At the end of the tenth day icebergs were seen, In one month they began using dogs. In six weeks’ time Peary was shaking hands with Fairbanks, he thermom- eter was between 100 degrees and 200 de- grees below In Vice-President’s land it was ascer- tained that there is no sun at all. It is all as dark as the mystery of Amalga- mated Copper earnings. Peary said no flowers grew anywhere, bouquets being unknown. The inhabi- tants live on cold air and crumbs Aside from having his fingers frost- bitten when he shook hands, Peary is better than might be expected, consider- ii hardshi, He expects, however, trip to the North Pole to recu- A Correction "AITER (in New York restaurant): We do not serve half portions to two persons, sir. * Patron: Yes, you do, only you charge for a full one. comicbooks.com