Life, 1908-09-03 · page 24 of 36
Life — September 3, 1908 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Senate Sent It Back"** is a humorous poem mocking legislative gridlock. It depicts the House passing a poorly-drafted bill ("poppycock") which the Senate repeatedly rejects. Each chamber blames the other, with neither willing to compromise—a timeless critique of bureaucratic dysfunction applicable to "nearly any State Legislature." **The Illustration** shows two figures in what appears to be a domestic scene, captioned with dialogue about Washington and "entangling alliances"—likely referencing isolationist foreign policy debates of the era (the page is dated 1908). **"Confidential Guide to Religions"** is satirical theater criticism describing different denominations as if they were Broadway productions—Baptist has "splendid acting," Episcopal is conventional, Methodist involves "blood and thunder." This mocks both religious practices and theater culture, treating faith denominations as entertainment spectacles with varying production values. The letter about vivisection (animal testing) represents genuine contemporary debate over medical ethics versus scientific progress.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Senate Sent It Back (Dedicated to nearly any State Legislature.) T members of the House one day were working on a bill; ‘They filled it chock with poppycock just wild enough to thrill, And when it was completed, and nothing seemed to lack— They sent it to the Senate, but the Senate sent it back Said the thing was out 0° whack. So the House piled more amendments to the stack ; Viewed their work more strong than knack They sent it to the Senate, but the Senate sent it back The Senate sent a message that was tinctured with a slur “In these absurd amendments the Senate cant concur.”” srew wild with fury, and said: “ We'll have hurly-burly with calm conviction, and with nerve But the House slack So they sent it to the Senate, but the Senate sent it back— id the HOUSE whack ; ‘They hoped that some Samaritan would put track. But the House. the crack They sent it to the Senate, was out o them on the mad as fiddlesticks, just wouldn't stand and the Senate sent it back: pe GOOD SAMARITAN: [went down in the slums yesterday to see that poor family I spoke to you about. Hee Hesnaxp: Are they in a bad way? “T never saw worse, Why they are so poor that they have to live in a Trinity Church tenement.” A Letter Hanvano University, Casmutpce, Mass, Aug. 1, 1908 ¢ Editor of Vive Iam heartily in sympathy with the spirit of your inst vivisection, and I hope you will have all the success possible. 1 know little about the subject, too little, to justify this letter; but my: justification must come y desire to sce the result effected. It seems to me visisection, conducted by earnest. and competent men, been, and will be, of great benefit to the human race. If 1am not mistaken, one important discovery we owe to it, the discovery of the circulation of the blood. You will pardon me if I misunderstand your position, but I believe that you are contending against vivisection as a whole. Now, don't you think that if you limited your crusade to that Sort of vivisection which is ahsolutely useless. or is carried on with- out every possible effort being taken to prevent suffering for and I admit that is a large part, your cause would he greatly strengthened, and would appeal to more people? K.W. Hunter. wt do not wish to contradict our correspondent, but the statement that the discovery of the circulation of the blood was due to vivisection has been emphatically denied Vivisection is always practical in private, and we consider restriction practically The would continue in absolute control, which means no restric- tion. Its vehement opposition to the mildest regulation has made its intentions perfectly clear. Regulation in England been a complete failure. It could not be otherwise. As to “every possible effort being taken to prevent suffer- npossible, medical profession ing"? we can only express an inqualified disbelief in the mutilation of living animals without acute suffering ARKE: Play? Lane: Not a very good game, “So much the better. I'd like to have you help us out at bridge. We play for money. Phyllis: STRENGTH 7"? Chester: No, t THINK ME ALLIANCES. DIDN'T WastiNG: IN UNION THERE 15 SAID “ REWARE OF ENTANGLING Confidential Guide to Religions Baptist: Tank drama. Costumes inferior, but contains some splendid acting. Too much red fire. With W. J. Rockefeller as angel is booked for long Run. iscopal: Conventional piece in which actors walk through their parts. Too much business, but contains some splendid musical hits, and is admirably presented Methodist: Blood and thunder farce. tional, but too much ranting. Would he greatly improved by introduction of a few vaudeville specialties. Plot poor, but in picces like this no one expeets plot Presbyterian: Gloomy and immoral. Should be avoided by extreme young. Most of the actors are killed off without hope. Leading parts taken by infants. Lurid drop curtain. Has had a long run, but will have to be considerably modified to be popular. Christian Science: Extravaganza deed, it is almost impossible to detect them crest sleight-of-hand performances we have seen. Splendidly emo- Jendid illusions. In- Ore of the clev- Great money- maker, but ephemeral Catholic: Unequalled anywhere for popular interest. For stage business has no rival. A strong stock company, in which Bound to have a long run. Unitarian: Full of human interest. but too realistic. Leaves 100 little to imagination. A few stories would help it. Weak in last act all the members are stars. comicbooks.com