Life, 1914-11-05 · page 37 of 48
Life — November 5, 1914 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Left Column - "Horrible Thought" Editorial Satire:** A biting critique of U.S. Navy bureaucratic evasion. The piece sarcastically outlines how officials could indefinitely avoid accountability for a smallpox outbreak aboard the USS Ohio by claiming ongoing investigations that never actually occur. It's social commentary on government stonewalling—officials delay, claim continued inquiry, and eventually claim completion without releasing findings. The satire calls out this transparent stalling tactic as unacceptable when citizens demand transparency. **Right Side - Product Advertisement:** A full-page ad for Pyrene fire extinguishers, marketed as protecting "priceless possessions" without water damage. The advertisement includes testimonial imagery and nationwide distributor listings. **Bottom - Editorial Essay "Ends":** A cynical reflection on government's actual versus stated purpose, arguing that governments historically destroy life, confiscate property, and encourage disorder through wars and diplomacy—contradicting the noble ideal that government protects life and property. This complements the Navy scandal critique above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Honrble Thought JPERHAES the reason the Navy De- partment withholds the results of the investigation of those smallpox cases on the battleship Ohio is that there were no: results because there was no investigation. Wouldn't it be too terrible’ if the officials had got themselves ‘into such a predicament? It would be easily possible, of course, and, from the mysterious manner in which the matter has been handled, almost any suspicions are justified. If, when these cases were first dis- covered, somebody had asked for an explanation, it would have been easy to reply that an investigation would be held, hoping that the matter would be forgotten and thus disposed of. Then, when the inquiry was renewed a few_ months later, it would be easy to say that the investigation was still un- completed. Then, if the matter per- sisted in being remembered, it would be easy to say, somewhat later, that the investigation was complete, but would not be given out until it had been digested by the Secretary of the Navy. But, of course, that sort of thing— we believe it is vulgarly referred to as sidestepping—can’t go on forever. If the public continues to insist upon not forgetting the matter, the Navy De- partment, or a future one, must tell exactly what happened. There must be an end some time to talking about an investigation that hasn't been held. “Bie Gonttu Prints Hoe E8 yearss Haka g Mk of Good Tasts le Picterss At Art Stores, Ps sent on prigapeccenl $1.00 to $100.00. Above picture. 7x9, $1.25; fon $2.50; 16x20, $5.00. MustratedCatalo; jandbookof Am: ican Artisentonreceipt of 25 cents ‘amps accepted) this cost deducted [rom subscazent purchase of Print ed new series Bie Gaptey: tings Your Family Portraits done privately from ion types, old photographs, tintypes, etc, CURTIS. & C RON, 33 $8 larvour PYRENE PROTECTION | Yor Your Priceless POSSCSSLONS “THE MOST EFFICIENT FIRE EXTINGUISHER KNOWN” PYRENE liquid contains no moisture. It is a dry liquid. Unlike water, it will not stain the most delicate fabrics. After the fire, it leaves rugs, paintings, books and other priceless possessions undamaged. At Leading Dealers Everywhere. Write for Literature. PYRENE MANUFACTURING CO., 1358 Broadway, N. Y. Beton Dub ‘ Richmond i : St-Lowie ‘Se. Paul Sait be ake Cty Si Sarai PACIFIC COAST DISTRIBUTORS: RHAM FIRE APPARATUS CO., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattic Distributors for Canada: May-Oatway Fire Alarms, Ltd., Winnlped, Toronto Distributors for Great Britain and the : The P: td, 1 Great Queen St., London, W. C. The chicf end of government is to protect life and property and preserve order. —New York Journal of Commerce. dislike to differ with such an esteemed friend, but so far as we are able to judge by observation and history, the chief end of government up to date has been to destroy life, confiscate property and encourage disorder, Govern- ments, as we sce them at work, are responsible for wars, bond issues and diplomacy. Without diplomacy there is a fair chance that wars would cease. Without wars, debts and bond issues would vanish. Without bond issues, poverty would tend to diminish, What the chief end of government ought to be and what it really is are two vastly different things.