Life, 1915-08-19 · page 40 of 48
Life — August 19, 1915 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical anecdotes about famous political figures of the era: 1. **William Jennings Bryan**: The joke mocks Bryan's reputation as a prolific speaker. A jobless man asks Bryan for employment advice; Bryan points to his mouth, claiming he's "using it myself"—a dig at his constant speechmaking and perceived verbosity. 2. **Kaiser Wilhelm II**: The humor derives from Wilhelm's recent exile to St. Helena (after WWI defeat). A British officer tries politely showing him his modest quarters; Wilhelm responds with forced cheerfulness, suggesting he and "chagrin had never met"—ironic understatement about his humiliation and loss of power. 3. **Military Vaccination**: A serious satire criticizing British Army coercion—soldiers told vaccination is optional before enlistment, then forced to comply afterward or face confinement in unsanitary trenches. The piece condemns this as hypocritical deception. The page also contains advertisements for Continental Motors and Evans' Ale, typical of period magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘Whether in men or in motors, stamina is the mark of the thoroughbred. For real stamina, staying power under severe conditions of stress or load, Continental Motors easily carry off the honors in the race for public preference [Lontinental Motors Over one hundred . and forty manufacturers of trucks and pleasure cars now use the Continental Motor. Built in various models and sizes to meet their different require- ments, it embodies always that pre-eminent quality —Continental Stamina. Upon the standard values of this world-famous motor, these several score manufacturers build a surer, a more enduring success. Demand Continental Stamina it insures lasting satisfaction. Continental Motor Mfg. Co. Detroit, Michigan Larsest Exclosive, Motor Builders Factories: DETROIT, MUSKEGON, MICH. Anecdotes of the Famous (Edited by John Kendrick Bangs) Mr Bryan ano tHE Hoso r was shortly after his dramatic re- tirement from his post as Secretary of State in the Cabinet of Presiden Wilson to become the successor of Dr. Dernburg as the Envoy-Apologetic of Germany in the United States that Mr. William Jennings Bryan, of Ne- braska, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and the District of Columbia, as well as of Potsdam, ex-officio, was accosted while walking in the cool of the eve- ning on Pennsylvania Avenue by one of the great army of the Voluntarily Unemployed. “Excuse me for speakin’ to you without bein’ interduced, Bo,” said the Panhandler, sidling up to the ex- Secretary, “but you don’t happen to know of an openin’ anywhere for an able-bodied man out of a job, do you?” “Yes, brother,” said Mr. Bryan, opening his mouth and pointing to it with his right forefinger. “I do. This is it, but, unfortunately for you, my friend, J am using it myself.” Whereupon, relieving the man’s im- mediate distress by giving him a Chautauqua rain-check, the distin- guished statesman resumed his walk. see Tue Katser at St, Hetena Tt was two days after the arrival of ex-Emperor Wilhelm Second at St Helena that he started out on a tour of inspection of his new quarters. “It's a tidy little plyce, sir” volun- teered the British officer in charge of the Imperial party, trying to make the distinguished guest of his government feel more at ease. “Yes,” replied the ex-Emperor, gaz- ing about him with an artificial smile designed to indicate that he and chagrin had never met.“ Yes—quite After a Game of Polo, Golf or Tennis there’s nothing more refreshing than a cool glass of A Nondescript Mixture +] FORE enlistment British soldiers are told that vaccination and inoculation are not compulsory, but after enlistment, when they are securely in the power of the authorities, they are informed that unless they admit these impurities into their Ulood they can not have furloughs and other valued privileges, but must be confined continually to the unsanitary trenches. The question arises: What is the best way to characterize this method of doing things? It is a rare concoction of superstition, therapeutics, hypocrisy, discipline, punishment, false pretenses, cruelty and indecency. There may be a modicum of sense in it somewhere, but it is not apparent on the surface. |It relieves the nerve tension and starts the genial glow of healthful stimulation Try it at Club, Hotel or Home. In Bottles and Splits. C,H. EVANS & SONS, HUDSON, N.Y. comicbooks.com