Life, 1914-07-23 · page 12 of 40
Life — July 23, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"What's the Score?" (Poem by Amos R. Wells):** This poem satirizes how people obsess over "the score" in all competitive endeavors—sports, politics, and life—rather than valuing character, spirit, or skill. It critiques both "thoughtful men and silly fools" for constantly asking "Who's ahead?" and "What's the score?" instead of focusing on meaningful conduct. **"Heard in the Halls of Congress":** This section mocks congressional debate through exaggerated rhetoric, with speakers using flowery, evasive language ("I yield to no man in my admiration...") and theatrical outbursts ("Every drop of blood in my veins—"). The satire suggests politicians prioritize dramatic performance and scoring political points over substantive governance. **"Baseball Term: A Pop Fly":** A humorous visual pun using insect imagery, likely connecting baseball terminology to political "hot air."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“What's the Score?” N hut and palace, field and mart, From mountain top to ocean shore, One query flutters every heart, One eager question—“ What's the score?” It may be tennis, golf or chess, Or baseball, football, basket-ball, Billiards or bowling, still we press The same inquiry for them all. Not how they played, or well or ill, And not the spirit they displayed, Nor how they proved their strength and skill— But only this, the score they made. And thoughtful men and silly fools, And underfed and overfed, And banks and courts and learned schools Are asking merely, “ Who's ahead?” And isn’t this the thing we ask On every matter, o'er and o'er, Not how men do the varied task, But “ Who's ahead?” and “ What's the score?" Amos R. Wells, BASEBALL TERM A POP FLY “WILL YOU PLEASE DIRECT M7 TO THE HALL OF INEBRIATES?” “ ER—INVERTERRATSS—NEXT ROOM TO YOUR RIGHT, UNLESS YOU WISH 70 SEE THE SNAKES.” Heard in the Halls of Congress tion for— “Mr. President, far be it from me 1D to no man in my admira- to say’aught that might. oa “Mr. President, I suggest the ab- sence of a quorum.” iJ “With all due respect to the gentle- man who has just spoken, I submit that——" “Just one word more, Mr. Presi- dent, and I will have done.” “TI do not want to take up the time of the Senate, but——" “Do I understand the gentleman to say— “T have listened with mingled feel- ings of admiration——” “At that last tribunal, as I am called upon to—” “Mr. Chairman, you may search in vain the pages of history, you drop of blood in my “My gorge rises: x “Mr. Chairman, never before in the history of this Republic has—-" OME of us stretch the truth, but most of us twist it.