Life, 1915-03-18 · page 16 of 40
Life — March 18, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Our Congressional Record"** satirizes Congressional priorities. The dialogue mocks politicians obsessing over trivial local matters—a post office's new shingles in "East Podunk"—while wars with Germany, England, and Mexico await consideration. The congressman's absurd justification ("I was born in East Podunk") and the President's casual dismissal of major conflicts highlight legislative dysfunction and misplaced priorities during the pre-WWI era. **"Hydrophobia in Constantinople"** uses dark irony to critique medical intervention. It argues that before the Pasteur Institute arrived, Constantinople had few rabies deaths despite many dog bites. Since the institute's establishment, cases and fatalities increased—suggesting the "cure" worsened outcomes, or that modern medicine's profit motive drove unnecessary treatment. The piece satirizes faith in scientific institutions and their commercial incentives. **The bottom illustration** shows a devil-like figure; the caption "What do you mean by God is on your side?" implies commentary on invoked divine authority—likely about war or political claims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WAR AND PEACE Our Congressional Record Public Building in East Podunk M*: BLATHERSKITE: I am directed by the Com- mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds to report the bill (B-41444) for immediate consideration. Mr. Povunkus: Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- sent for the immediate consideration of the bill which provided new shingles for our post-office. Tue Prestoent: Is there anything more important be- fore the house? Curr: Tariff bill, shipping bill, war with Germany, Mexico and Great Britain. Mr, Buatierskite: Unless there is something more important than these matters, or an appropriation involv- ing more than one hundred millions, 1 ask immediate consideration of the bill, (Applause.) 1 yield to no man in my admiration for my enemies, but to me East Podunk is the first consideration. Mr. Sptinters: I should like to take up not more than four or five hours of the time of the house, giving my views on the Shingle Trust. (His remarks will follow in a special edition at the expense of the government.) Mr. Biatnerskite: I rise to a question of personal privilege. My friend from West Aurora (Splinters) has insinuated that I am controlled by the Shingle Trust be- cause I am not willing to let the rains of heaven fall upon the defenseless and devoted head of that lifelong servant of this Republic, our local postmaster. (Great applause.) He little knows me, sir. I was born in East Podunk. Tue Preswent: Is there any objection to the present consideration of the bill? I hear none. The war with Germany, England and Mexico will, therefore, wait until the gentleman from East Podunk goes out and gets a shave and shampoo and then presents his report. Hydrophobia in Constantinople CONSIDER the case of Constantinople, all ye who are weary and heavy laden with serums. Here was a city with an ex- tremely large number of dogs, and many of these dogs were vicious, and, as a result, the inhabitants were frequently bitten. But, strange to say, there were very few cases of hydrophobia, and almost none of these were fatal. But, lo! upon a fateful day, modern med- ical science discovered this benighted spot and prescribed that a Pasteur Institute be established at once to protect the inhabi- tants against hydrophobia in the most ap- proved serumatic style, And lo! since the establishment of the Pasteur Institute the cases of hydrophobia in Constantin@ple have greatly increased in number and a much larger proportion of them are fatal, with, of course, a corresponding increase in the profits of the Pasteur Institute. “Dear Bill. What do you mean by God ts on your side? Yours, ours, D. -