Life, 1915-02-18 · page 16 of 44
Life — February 18, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks **Reverend Billy Sunday**, a famous American evangelist known for energetic, unorthodox preaching. The satire is narrated by a Japanese observer visiting America through letters, using broken English for comic effect. The cartoon shows two figures in formal dress observing the spectacle. The joke: Sunday preaches using **baseball terminology and theatrical gestures** (umpire thumbs, violent arm motions mimicking baseball star Ty Cobb), treating salvation like a sports game with "converts" as scores. He uses colloquial language ("you four flushers," "soak 'er in") and dramatic physicality incongruous with traditional religious decorum. The satire critiques Sunday's commercialization of religion—he's described as manufacturing "100,000 converts," with entry requiring tickets and payment. The "electric lighting signal in red & green" at the hall suggests carnival-like showmanship rather than spiritual reverence. By filtering this through an innocent Japanese perspective, the piece highlights how absurd and irreverent American evangelical theatricality appears to outside observers—exposing the gap between Christianity's dignified ideals and Sunday's sensationalized practice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LaAP’E * Letters of a Japanese School-boy The Rev. Billy Sunday To Editor “Life Moving Picture Paper” who permit a reasonable amount of insanity to all human races, EAREST SIR:— Quite recently of yore my cousin Nogi approach to me and report, “Togo,” he say it travelling delegate from Young Men's Heathen Association, Tokyo, I wish to see some American religion and learn what make him so superior to other brands of idolotry.” “Follow my feet steps for see,” I report fearlussly. “There are very high priesthood Christian gentleman making speech-talk in Odd Fellers Hall. Last year he manufacture 100,- 000 converts, so he must be most im- portant Christian to study.” “T shall go and learn so I can tell Japan how do it,” negotiate Nogi. “What are name of this great piety?” “Rev. Wm Sunday,” I stob. nounced Billy, as in goat.” “You should not speak such illreverence of dignified clergy,” Nogi otter shockly. Me & Nogi put on frock- coatish uniform to resemble quiet respect for church, then we sonter fourth, making our hands crossed for righ- teousness. We are very hushed when we approach up to Odd Fellers Hall. But great feel of puzzle filled our hats when we observe clectric lighting signal in red & green, Bic SHow To-nicut!!! Rev. Bitty Sunpay in Soakinc Satan. “That might sound very reverential in Japanese,” Nogi corrugate. “Tt might but would it?” are next question for me while we are ushed into that religious hall amidst pipe-organ playing “I'm Glad My Wife's in Europe”. Gentleman what sat in National League pew next by me holla, “Line er out, Bill!” while one clergy gentleman hopp to pulpit with baseball leg. Before speech this clergy make Christy Mathewson expression of elbows, throw highball in Gen. Direction of heaven, then he spat three catches with hands and spoke, “Three and out!” “Bully for Billy organ outburst, Satan.” “His first name are pro- " exclam the choir while Hon. Pip- Sister Susie’s Saving Souls from “Me and Nogi put on frock-coatish uniform ” “This are Rev. Wm. Sunday,” pro- nounce deaconish Y. M. C. A. next by me. “I know him by the sound,” is bright report I make. Hon. Rev. Bill step forwards and make umpire thumbs. “Get in and root for Heaven, you four flushers,” he commence reveren- tially, “ Now is time for the big game, Angel Whites vs Red Rovers. I want to put in a champeen boost for God to-night. I want to explan to youse Guys how Kingdom of Heaven ain't no cinch—will you kindly see ?—you got to have season ticket, pay in advance, step lively, knock a great big bingle for home run Charlie ere you can obtain a gate-check for a harp and wear a crown of glory.” Great sensational enjoyed by all while Hon. Wm execupe 2 side-step amidst knee-crack while he hold up hymn-book with two- handed expression peculiar to Hon. Tie Cobb. Play ball!!” he preach. “Hon. Devvil are in the box, Hon. World behind plate, Hon. Booze at first base. We must worry! Hon. Rev Billy Sunday are at batt with gospel to do all necessary knocking. Soak ‘er in, Hon. Satan! Ball first! Maybe you fool them, but very soonly I shall be enabled to analyze your curvature. Ball two!” (Hon. Bill swung great swop with book.) “Another hellish scorch got passed me—I shall get you yet, Des- perado Desmond! Old Sate can pitch brush league game, but he got glassy arm, Charliesteed leg and other deformi- ties.” (Hon. Sunday jounce up book more seriously than before.) “Come on, you Dev!” (He make enlarged swung by book.) “Ah! Fairish ball!” (With those words he commence running rampage around pulpit where he slide skillfully on the seat of his stummick and touch fingers to wood. Loudy cheers of “ Bully for Billy!" from elsewhere.) “That are way,” this eminent divine report, arising uply and brushing dusts from his frockaway coat, “ that are way for sinners to obtain cternal happiness. If you wish St Pete to punch your meal-ticket you got to crack the pill between the e: We will now sing Old Hundred—and I don’t want no shorty-sports to sing Ninety-and-Nine so they can save 1% on salvation.” While this music ensue considerable ushes pass down isle and took collection to which me & Nogi do not re- member to contribute. This are only resemblance between Rev. Sunday and actual church. After this religious finance are completed that Rev. Mr. uprose, took water