Life, 1911-11-16 · page 19 of 44
Life — November 16, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on Chicago's social aspirations and New York attitudes. The top poem "Chicago Non Delenda Est" (playfully referencing the Roman phrase "Carthago delenda est") mocks Chicago's attempt to rebrand itself as a cultured, refined city. The satire notes Chicago wants to shed its reputation for crude commercialism ("the slang of the mart and the dock-yards") and present itself as an intellectual center with universities and refined manners. The jabs at shoe-dealers' comments about "the Girl of Chicago" and references to the "L—— case" (likely the Everleigh Club scandal) suggest the city's notoriety persists despite its cultural pretensions. The animal cartoon below shows a Rooster criticizing an Owl's nocturnal habits—likely a parable about differing urban lifestyles or work cultures. The editorial "Let the Name Alone!" defends Blackwell's Island's historical name against proposals to rename it "Hospital Island" to distance it from penal associations. The writer argues historical names shouldn't be erased for marketing purposes. Finally, a brief note mocks New Yorkers' affected pronunciation of "Chicago" as "Tchi-cah-go"—regional snobbery about Midwest cities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Chicago Non Delenda Est. HICAGO, Chicago, I'm perfectly sure C You, too, have been grossly maligned. Your sons are now turning to literature, And your taste in the arts is refined And the Girl of Chicago! She's shrinking and shy, Well lacking in brag or conceit; Yea, the dealers in shoes say, “It’s all a big lie, This joke on the size of her {—. Why boast about Harvard's high cultureen caste? Say, isn’t Chicago some nails With her big University running full blast And turning out culture in bales? », they don't talk the patois of commerce out there, The slang of the mart and the dock-yards; Now the savour of Academe freshens the air With never a whiff from the s Chicago is setting a national vogue, Called “ Start Some Reforms of Your Own.” She's jousting a bit at the partisan rogue And baiting King Graft on his throne. So, neighbors, be careful! The Kettle’s disgrace, Prevents him from mocking the Black Pot; Let's swallow our words on the L—— case, And never refer to the j}—— p—. Chicago, no more you're half baked in the jar; You've many more cults than the Hubs. Your houses are built in the style of “ Boze Arr” And English is spoke in your clubs. Your manners are suave where they once were direct, Your life is as smooth as a card. Don't mention your sources—for none would suspect That you get all your polish from 1— Wallace Irwin THAT POINT OF VIEW Rooster; THE TROUBLE WITH YoU, MR. OWL, 1S THAT YOU KEEP BAD HOURS. EVERYBODY OUGHT TO Go To BED ANOUT SUNSET AND GET UP JUST BEFORE DAYLIGHT. Let the Name Alone! A LOT of people hereabouts whose wits need employ- ment have begun to agitate changing the name of Blackwell's Island and calling it Hospital Island, or some- thing else. The reason given is that the island has been put to penal and corrective uses for a good while until its name has gathered unpleasant associations. Hear! hear! If the familiar uses of the island are to continue, the present name is surely good enough. If they are to change and improve, new associations will promptly gather around the old name. Out on people who want to change the names of streets and places, who respect neither use nor history, nor any -thing in local nomenclature but their own whims or their own interests! Blackwell's Island has been Blackwell's Island since the seventeenth century. Its owner, by in- heritance late in that century Mary Manning. She married Robert Blackwell, and she and her island both took his name. That was more than two centuries ago. Let the name alone: it is a good name and has lasted well, Some day the island will be Blackwell's Island Park. It is far too good for the uses it is now put to. ANOTHER way to spot a New Yorker is by the way he pronounces “Chicago.” “ Tchi-cah-go” is his And “ Dee-trét,” always. And his way of for those cities is to refuse to be idea of it. showing contempt corrected. comicbooks.com