Life, 1913-06-12 · page 15 of 44
Life — June 12, 1913 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"An Extravaganza"** depicts a dialogue between an unnamed European monarch (likely Austria-Hungary's emperor) and his advisor "Lire," discussing the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and territorial ambitions following the Turk's expulsion from Europe. The satire mocks the scramble for power among European nations—Russia, Italy, France, and the Balkans—each eyeing territorial gains and weakened neighbors. The caricatured figures represent competing imperial interests; the joke is the naked cynicism: leaders openly discussing theft of ports and subjugation of smaller nations ("Ferdinand of Bulgaria to cut the grass"). **"Alabama"** is a serious poem by Hinton Gilmore lamenting the corruption of the state's name—once meaning a Native American refuge, now synonymous with child labor exploitation ("Here We Work" replacing "Here We Rest"). It contrasts the region's original meaning with industrial-era degradation and the betrayal of vulnerable populations. Together, the page juxtaposes cynical imperial geopolitics with domestic American moral failure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
though the Turk is driven out of Eu- rope, those dreaded Slavs you speak of will ‘soon be fighting among them- selves over the spoils.” “But, Lire! What is going to be- come of the Triple Alliance? Italy is already getting cold, and as for Rus- Yes, Sire. Russia has always been cold. It is the nature of the beast; except when slaughtering the women and children of the enemy.” “And in the meantime, with France on one side and this new Bu nation on the other, and Italy and Rus- sia beginning to crowd me close, what is going to happen to poor old Aus- tria?” “Well, pect?” Sire, what do you ex- AN EXTRAVAGANZA “Between you and me, Lire, v ready to take anything we can lay our hands on. Several nice little ports on the Adriatic, Nicholas of Montenegro to attend to the door-bell, Ferdinand of Bulgaria to cut the grass and keep the rose bushes trimmed, Sister France to lend us a few soldiers occasionally, when we need them, and Russia to re- tire gracefully.” id you think you deserve all of but that doesn't mat- Not if you can get it.” “Which I suspect we Lire.” “Here's hoping, King Joseph, that your suspicions will come true. Tra Ta la.” won't, Alabama [X 2s limpid_nomenctature Of the Indian, long ago, Ere the modern legislature Came to wink an eye at woe, Alabama, to the savage Meant his haven, loved the best Free from hunger, cold and ravage— “ Alabama—Here We Rest.” Gone the Indian; gone the meaning Of the name he gave the State; Greed of Mammon, overweening, Goads the child-slaves, early—late. Robbed of childhood, education, Toiling, groaning—none m They have learned this new transla- tion :— “ Alabama—Here We Work.” Hinton Gilmore, comicbooks.com