Life, 1914-05-14 · page 15 of 44
Life — May 14, 1914 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"A Pressing Need"** mocks upper-class attitudes toward unemployment. The author sarcastically suggests the real problem isn't lack of jobs, but that unemployed people lack "gentleness, urbanity, geniality"—refinement. The joke is that privileged commentators blame unemployed workers for being uncouth rather than addressing actual economic hardship. References to "Lord Chesterfield" (known for courtesy advice) and making them read *The Outlook* (a respectable magazine) amplify the absurdity. **"Ballingford to the Front"** satirizes sensationalist war journalism. The correspondent claims to report "Everything He Sees And Doesn't See"—admitting he fabricates news. The Mexico City scene parodies yellow journalism: a Mexican general (Huerta) and American journalist recognize each other as liars and allies, both willing to invent stories about invading the United States. This critiques how journalists and politicians manufacture war narratives for public consumption. Both pieces use exaggeration to expose hypocrisy and self-serving dishonesty among authority figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ Who is Silvia? What is she That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair and wise is she, The heav'ns such grace did lend her. oeeee Is she kind, she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness.” Tio Gentlemen of Verona. A Pressing Need ECENT disturbances centering about the unemployed bring forci- bly to our attention a very vulnerable spot in our civilization. It seems that we have utterly failed to evolve a class of unemployed who possess that gen- tleness, urbanity, geniality and self- effaciveness without which life is well- nigh unbearable. It is a bad condition and should be corrected without the least moment's delay. Let every re- form, uplift and progressive battery be turned in the direction of this egre- gious unregeneracy. We should talk to the jobless men and women. We should preach to them. We should cognac, 871 scold them a little if necessary. If worst comes to worst, we could even make them read the Outlook, We must introduce more comity into the condition of unemployment. We should aim to endow our unemployed with such airs and graces as to make even a Lord Chesterfield seek their society. Ballingford to the Front Life's World Famous War Correspond- ent Will Report Everything He Sees And Doesn't See, In- cluding Everything That Is Unfit To Print (Note.—J. Bounder Ballingford has long been Lire’s special correspondent, and has traveled over the wide world. He stops at nothing.) Mexico Crty—(Special correspond- ence to Lire.) I have been closeted with Huerta all the morning. When he learned that I was an American Yellow Journalist and therefore as big a liar as himself he ordered a special guard to protect me. “We boys must stand together,” he said, as he handed nic a quart gourd of “And now, partner, what can I do for you?” “T should like to see your plans for invading and annexing the United States.” “ Certainly,” he replied, as he opened NES PLAYED WITH HIS USUAL DASH” comichooks.