Life, 1912-01-25 · page 7 of 44
Life — January 25, 1912 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical poem by Wallace Irwin mocking Philadelphia's William Penn statue atop City Hall. The cartoon header depicts various figures interacting with the statue—angels, politicians, and what appear to be reform-minded characters. The poem satirizes the statue's prominent placement and its symbolic weight in Philadelphia politics. It references: - Penn's Quaker legacy ("thy Quaker") - Local political figures (mentions "Mike," "Blankenberg," "Tony Biddle") - Philadelphia institutions (Penrose, Broad Street) - A baseball game where the Athletics played the Giants, during which the statue apparently "spoke" and asked about the score—the poem's humorous climax The satire suggests the statue is a static, oversized monument to past ideals while current Philadelphia politics and life move messily around it. The joke hinges on the statue's apparent indifference being broken only by sports-related excitement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To the Giant Statue of William Penn (On City Hall, Philadelphia) HEE stands serenely, William Penn, As on the dome, O Brazen Bill, Upon thy City Hall, Thee dost defy the storm, And though thee blushest now and then, Art thee for Organization still, Thee doth approve withal. 5 Or hast thee turned Reform? Thy legs are fat, thy Quaker hat When Blankenberg received his boost Defies the Schuylkill’s rust. Did thee, Bill, standing pat, I sometime think I see thee wink— Not almost tumble from thy roost? Thee dost, you bet thee dost! Yea, Bill, thee near did that! Thee sometimes shew a puzzled face, Thy sons must jar thy staid old nerve. Beholding deeds of men; Scorning policemen’s shouts For there is quite a little space They whisk around the Broad Street curve From Penrose back to Penn. In racing runabouts. In offices beneath thy feet And thee can look as stern and black Full many a deal has passed As any Quaker man Which thee hast heard but can’t repeat— When Tony Biddle boxes Jack— Thee hast, sure Mike, thee hast! Thee can, indeed thee can! O statue of Bill Penn, they say Thee never speaks—but. wait! Last year, one fine September day, Thee did ejaculate. ’Twas when thy dear Athletics bore The Giants to the Grid, Then thee did bellow, “ What's the score?” Thee did—now Bill!—thee did! Wallace Irwin.