Life, 1914-11-19 · page 10 of 44
Life — November 19, 1914 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical poem titled "The Heathen" by Arthur Guiterman, accompanied by four cartoons about automobiles. The text mocks Christian missionary efforts, suggesting hypocrisy: a working woman donates her savings to convert "heathens" (non-Christians in foreign lands—Kafirs, Zulus, Annamese, Sebagangs), yet Christian institutions don't reciprocate financially helping her. The four car cartoons appear to joke about automotive dangers and speed, with captions like "Come on, take a ride, Henry" and "These things do get over the ground, don't they Frank?" The final panel asks "Is this as fast as you can go, Frank?"—likely satirizing early automobile speeds and safety concerns. The overall message critiques misplaced charity priorities and industrial-age risks.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
laint never set a foot in one of’ them contraptions and I hope I never will. The Heathen SCRUBWOMAN Gives $60 TO CHURCH At the Gospel Tabernacle, after the sermon of the Rev. Dr. Albert B. Simpson yesterday morning, the annual subscription was taken for the work of the missionaries of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The total amount pledged was $34,437.90. One scrubwoman contribu $60, saved from her earnings, and promised $10 more as soon as she could get it, —New York Times, October 12, 1914. EHOLD a Scrubbing-woman, poor and thrifty, Who earned each day a dollar-fifty, And somehow saved—(let Feonomic Scholars Please figure how!)—the sum of Sixty Dollars, And then she went to Church and heard some Preaching,— A Touching Discourse, earnestly beseeching Financial Aid to help convert the Pagans— The Kaffirs, Zulus, Annamese, Sebagans, Or else the Russians, English, French and Germans ;— At all events, this Most Devout of Sermons Enthralled the Working Lady so, that she then And there gave all her Savings to the Heathen! Since Wealth is Dross (the Prophets all forsook it), With Grateful Thanks the Reverend Doctors took it. They didn’t say, “I think we'd best return it, Dear Sister, for you worked so hard to earn it; “The Winter's coming on and you may need it.” They took the Money faster than you read it. So let us wish the Heathen good digestions And hope they won't be asking Foolish Questions, While Experts prosecute their Deep Researches To find out “What's the Matter with Our Churches”. Arthur Guiterman. Come on,take a ride, Henry. Alright, Just a short one. These things do get rer: the ground, dort they Frank?