Life, 1911-07-27 · page 10 of 40
Life — July 27, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a poem titled "Blame It on the Engineer" responding to a train accident. The illustration shows a derailed locomotive with casualties, depicting the immediate aftermath of a crash. The poem's narrative frames the engineer as responsible for the disaster—he's "killed" and "that makes the explanation clear." It presents a "trusted servant, tried and skilled" who will be blamed for the tragedy. The verses suggest this blame-assignment is convenient: authorities blame the dead engineer rather than investigating systemic failures or corporate responsibility. The poem's final lines imply the truth may eventually emerge through legal proceedings ("the Court of Last Appeal"), hinting that initial blame-shifting may not represent the actual cause. The satire critiques how disasters are handled by scapegoating individual workers rather than addressing deeper institutional problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AT LIFE'S FRESH AIR FARM A SUMMER THIRST Life's Fresh Air Fund ¢ of sor, Lare’s Farsi Aix Fuso has been 1 operation t r years. In that time it hos expended $126.447-44 and s given a fortnight in t 103 city chakdrer The Fu knowledged in this col Inclus beque are ac Previously acknowledged W dollar bill Smith or anythin Moore Gibbor George Josephir GR Dor In Me WG. Mrs Coyne FT... Duluth, Mien ary “Hearn Gremis Cc Mo x Wilder, “Cardwell, Marga . Rathleer Mice 10.00 $.3t Geo, Munter. EF. Col y I stung by a hee T caught 8 fish the were them little killies one died on me T send aunt lizzie a picture postal card you wont know me when I come back III he so fat all the milk you want to drink send me a letter telling me did you receive my picture postal cards and these two cards hoping the family is all well from your loving son I. M. Blame It on the Engineer sto the N.Y NIL H.R. RY) (Vith apolog LURCH that flings the rushing train, A. roaring rends, The groan of death, the shriek of pain And—Holy, Holy Dividends! hock that rips and ~The killed. That makes the explanation clea A trusted servant, tried and skilled, We'll blame it on the Engine cer? Poor chap, he's “Too bad; he served us fairly well Of course, we gave him ample pay And worked him, through this tor- rid spell, Sot_ more hours a than sixteen “ His train was late, it seems agreed; He disobeyed commands, we fear, And tore ahead at reckless speed ; Let's blame it on the Engineer.” Some day, some day, the Truth may leap In lines of flame across the Blue, OF eyes weighed down for want of sleep, Of Greed that works one man for two, OF coward shifts, of simple ze And when the witnesses appear, Perhaps the Court of Last Appeal Won't blame it on the Engineer. Why Not Celebrate It > A’ Lirthda different times some of have celebrated donation of ice cream and cake to the children at Lire’s Farm, ‘This is a very to ob- serve the da expense is not great ($25 will cover it) and one can be sure it will 1 of real rejo friends their s by a factory wa a day cing. casion bi come a day of boundless joy to others Think this over. And act quickly, may a melancholy comicbookeom