Life, 1912-02-08 · page 15 of 44
Life — February 8, 1912 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical "interview" with W. R. Gaynor, New York City's Mayor (appears to be early 1900s based on the publication style). The humor relies on Gaynor's reputation for being irascible and confrontational. The text mocks the Mayor through a faux-interview where the interviewer asks increasingly blunt questions—calling him a "grouch," asking if he's "narrow" and "egotistical"—which Gaynor cheerfully admits to. The joke is that he's self-aware about his disagreeable nature yet unbothered by it. The bottom cartoon, "Qualifying for the Ballot," shows voting booths with figures visible through windows, apparently depicting candidates or politicians being "tested" or "qualified" for ballots—a commentary on electoral politics of the era. The overall piece uses Gaynor's well-known cantankerous personality as a vehicle for political satire about municipal leadership and democratic processes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*~LIFE: Talks With Great People W. R. Gaynor HERE scemed to be a cheerful and pleasant aspect about the City Hall as we approached. The tall policeman guarding the entrance Jeaned over us and smiled pleasantly. He said: “You couldn’t have come at a better time to interview the Mayor. He is in a fine humor to-day. He won't do anything more than throw you out of the window or kick you in the face or some pleasant little thing like that. Walk right in.” We had made up our mind beforehand to be frank, on the theory that the Mayor of New York is never too en- thusiastic about people who are not frank. And so we went in and slapped him on the back, We said, cheer- fully: “How is the old grouch to-day?” He seemed highly edified by this remark, and offered us a couple of chairs to sit down in. There was a long pause. Becoming a little nervous we ventured at last: “Well, Mr. Mayor, you seem strangely silent.” “Yes,” he replied, “never having met you before, I was at a loss as to the most disagreeable thing that I could say, However, I'll try and get it in later when I know you a little better. What the did you come here far, anyway?” “We came here to find out what you are.” “Well, if you really want to know, I'll tell you. Iam only trying to do the best I can for everybody, but my temperamental limitations are such that I can’t always succeed in accomplishing my results.” “Aren't you a trifle narrow?” * Yes" “Aren't you intensely egotistical?” “Yes.” “Don't you always carry your nerve with you?” “Yes.” “ Wouldn’t these things, Mr. Mayor, be enough to make you unpopular under almost any circumstances?” "Yes" “How about Hyde?” “He's the best friend I’ve got.” “ And the only one?” At this moment the interview came to an abrupt ter- mination. Mr. Gaynor did what the tall policeman said he would, However, we landed on our feet and have lived to tell the tale. THe ee Be Ee cate mes i = QUALIFYING FOR THE BALLOT