Life, 1910-09-29 · page 18 of 40
Life — September 29, 1910 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical rewriting of the Biblical story of Jonah in modern newspaper style, mocking early 1900s political corruption. The piece reimagines Jonah as a Democratic political boss fleeing Tarshish to escape criticism—a transparent reference to a contemporary politician dodging scandal. The satire targets: - **Political corruption**: Jonah is a "boss" traveling to avoid "unpleasant criticisms," implying he's guilty - **Party loyalty**: His toughness as a Democrat literally saves him; the whale can't digest him - **Voter manipulation**: He fears his "henchmen" will turn against him at "the next election" - **Yellow journalism**: The mock-serious tone parodies sensationalist newspaper coverage of political scandals The opening editor's note criticizes a Chicago clergyman's proposal to modernize Biblical language, and Life uses this exact device to satirize contemporary politics by applying modern newspaper conventions to ancient scripture. The whale's exhibition in a vaudeville show adds comedic absurdity to the ending.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHEN WE REGIN TO TAX CHURCH PROPERTY (A Chicago clergyman recently stated that the Bible ought to be rewritten in modern newspaper language, in order that it might be more widely read. Lire humbly presents a sample chapter, im hopes that his esteemed contemporaries will thus faire the cue.) Jonah Was an Insider Great Excitement in Nineveh Over Latest Tale of Whale Rescue (By special correspondent) INEVEH, September 24.—Word has just been received in this city of the rescue of Jonah Amittai, the well-known reformer and Democratic boss of Tarshish, who was reported to have been drowned after sailing from Joppa on the 3oth of last month. Wireless messages just received from vessel secm to leave no doubt that Jonah had a narrow escape. The story is as follows: When about ten hours out of Joppa, the barometer began to fall and the weather got thick, the wind increasing in vio- isnce, I: was known that Jonah was taking a sea trip in order to avoid unpicasant criticisms, and suspicion naturally lighted on him. The gale increased until it was blowing ninety miles an hour and Jonah, being found in the rear cabin going over the figures of the last district election, was told that all hope was lost unless he abandoned the ship, as there seemed no doubt he had offended the powers that be. Amittai protested and declared that he could prove his innocence, but by this time the ship was beginning to founder and he was unceremoniously cast adrift. Now the marvelous part follows, but there seems no doubt of its truth, as it is attested by cye-witnesses and sworn to by several clergymen to whom the truth had been revealed. It seems that a large whale was following the vessel and the mo- ment Amittai struck the water the whale fletcherized him. How he lived through this process is not yet known, as he is in the hospital here too w to talk. The fletcherizing process went on for three days, but Jonah having been a Democratic boss so long that he was ex- trcordinarily tough, the whrle apparently gave it up and cast him at a summer res srt near this city. He was brought here this snorning in a secing-the-coast rubber-neck wagon. It is pro'ty well understood that he was urged to go on a muckraking expop"tion against this town and tried to esi by way of Joppa, as it would have undoubtedly counted against him with his heichmen at the next election. Afier his terrible experience Jonah is doing as well as can be expected. ‘The whale was captured after a long chase and is now one 0 the leading features of a local vaudeville show. comicbooks.com