Life, 1908-07-23 · page 19 of 20
Life — July 23, 1908 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Secretary of War William Howard Taft's 1907 trip to East Asia. The humor centers on a Chinese sedan-chair builder's formal contract to construct an exceptionally sturdy chair for Taft, who was notably overweight. The satire works on multiple levels: it mocks Taft's weight (the builder must reinforce the chair with metal and ropes), American diplomatic sensitivities (the builder worries the chair breaking would embarrass the U.S. in front of the Chinese), and cross-cultural misunderstandings. The formal, flowery language of the translated contract—written as if to prevent an international incident—amplifies the absurdity. The piece gently ridicules American self-importance in foreign relations while poking fun at Taft himself. The source is identified as *Youth's Companion*, suggesting this was considered appropriate family humor in 1907.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SECRETARY TAFT'S CHAIR When Secretary Taft made his trip to the East last year, the American consul at Hongkong gave orders to a Chinese builder of sedan-chairs to make one for sper and dignified conveyance of the Secretary he should be in Hongkong. Ie took pains to press upon the man the fact that Mr. Taft is un- sally heavy, and that the chair must therefore be of uncommon strength. The New York Sun, hearing f the existence of the amusing’ contract, asked for copy of it. The consul, after having ascertained the State Department had no objection to his making it public, sent a copy to the Sun, which re- cently printed it. Translated, it reads as follows: Hongkong, Oct. 7, 1907. ndersigned, Yu Wo, of 15 B, Wellington ¢ to make a sedan-chair for the American sulgeneral in the city of Hongkong, as the red- ed people style it, or “* Fragrant Streams" in the cular, This chair is to be used to carry the American nt, the Hon, William H. Taft. The said Taft be- one of the most conspicuous ornaments of the \werican Wai Wu Pu (imperial cabinet), it will ob- ly discredit his nation if the chair should dis ate in Queen's Road, or in front of the govern Such things have happened. To avert 1 complications of this sort, I, Yu Wo, skill as a chairmaker. be re-enforced at all weak points. The wer the shoulders of the coolies shall be nened with metal. ‘The shafts shall be of eter. The body itself shall be of eventful adhere to the shafts not merely by the tional bonds, but by ropes. Red cloth shall adorn cat of the chair, and gleaming brass look defi- wut on the admiring bystanders to a point that, usly, fokis, amahs and dealers in rice, fire- 1 jade shall say, “Certainly this nation of open door, that has so long befriended the middle ym, is a great powe Rorne by six coolies, spectacle shall long linger in the Oriental mind My price is to be five dollars, but there is to be no ¢ against the consul for the making or use of chair if it breaks or humiliates while in use of the } American giant With such precautions T do safeguard the dignity a friendly power, and contribute an honest chair- aker’s part in preserving the peace of the far East. (Signed) Yu Wo. —Youth's Companion. Latest Books The Complete Lawn Tennis, by A. Wallis Myers W. Jacobs and Company, Philadelphia, Pa anced Golf, by James Briad. (Geo. W. Jacobs $3.00.) vst-Girl, by Edward C. Booth. (The Cen- ny. $1.50.) Window, by the author of “ The Garden Commuter’s Wife." 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