Life, 1912-01-25 · page 10 of 44
Life — January 25, 1912 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon, titled "Professional Immunity," depicts a clergyman (identifiable by his collar and top hat) approaching two men on a street. The caption indicates the clergyman has "noticed his garb, apologized and shuffled on," suggesting religious figures received social protection from criticism. The accompanying articles discuss two topics: "Teaching the Colleges" critiques the Intercollegiate Socialist Society's influence in academia, and "Life's Presidential Candidates" sarcastically proposes Oscar Hammerstein as a 1912 presidential candidate, suggesting he'd handle diplomatic matters better than typical politicians through operatic performance rather than traditional campaigning. The satire targets institutional hypocrisy, socialist influence in education, and political incompetence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PROFESSIONAL IMMUNITY (Beggar has approached clergyman, noticed his garb, apologized and shuffled on) Clergyman: Now, CONFOUND THE FELLOW ! Teaching the Colleges E are in receipt of a circular from the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, the object of which is “ to promote an intelligent interest in Socialism among college men and women.” ‘This unusual proceeding is wise in direct proportion as it is necessary. To promote an intelligent interest in any- thing among college men and women is good. To promote an intelligent interest in something that is with us here and _ now, as against dead languages, dead kings and dead legends, is better. Socialism is very much with us, and we hope the socicty’s implication that the colleges have not yet found it out is unwarranted. If, however, the colleges are still in the dark as to this matter, then the Intercollegiate Socialist Society has a proper niche as a sort of supple- mentary faculty, with a supplementary curriculum. HESVEN is a consolation prize for the outcast of earth, WHY DID HE DO THAT? Life’s Presidential Candidates For the Presidency in 1912 we beg leave to offer the name of Mr. Oscar Hammerstein. We have never had an operatic impresario in this office, although the need for one has long been apparent. Mr. Hammerstein would be especially effective in international complications. He would know how to handle the Italian, Spanish, German, French and other volatile, operatic and temperamental lega- tions with neatness and dispatch, and with an effectiveness far more thoroughgoing than the wildest dreams of The Hague Peace Conference. Mr. Hammerstein is the log- ical man for the place, even though he has temporarily expatriated himself. Nominate him by all means, and let us vary the monotony by having a singing, instead of a talking, campaign. “LITER children all went wrong, didn’t they?” “Yes; married for love.”