Life, 1916-01-20 · page 25 of 44
Life — January 20, 1916 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical allegory about the 1912 presidential election, written in mock-medieval language. "Ye Theodore" represents Theodore Roosevelt; "Ye Lady Nomination" is the Progressive Party; "Woodrow" is Woodrow Wilson (the Democrat); and "Ye Fat Dub" riding the elephant is William Howard Taft (Republican, the elephant being the GOP symbol). The satire mocks Roosevelt's political maneuvering: he initially resists the Progressive Party's nomination pleas but eventually yields. The story portrays him as conflicted—claiming moral reluctance while ultimately accepting their support against Wilson. The top cartoon shows a woman (Lady Nomination) "frightfully behind the times" because "she hasn't even had her tail docked"—suggesting the Progressive Party is outdated or improperly modernized. The "Double Dummy" bridge cartoon at bottom likely comments on political deception or futility in the campaign negotiations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ SHE'S FRIGHTFULLY Ye Knights of Ye Round Babel The Yielding of Ye Theodore HAPTER XXIII. Knight Theodore Came Back from Now Ye Goodlie Ye Progressive Trysting Place. And the Lady Nomination made courtesy unto Sir Theodore, and bade him come with her unto the Castle Progressive, where was one doughty warrior, Ye George Perkins, and his brother Knight yclept Frank Munsey, and many other fearsome knights, all gathered together, with heaps of shining gold on ye table among them all, the which the mighty Theodore was tempted to essay, albeit the Lady Nomina- tion decried him and said, No need, good knight, for with thine honor’s meed must thou fight in my behalf. And so Ye Goode Theodore put on him his oysterbays and eke his big sticke and sallied out where was a dark knight of sombre and cold aspect and high brow, whose fame had gat the country round, and Woodrow was his name. And while they essayed each the other, there be one, a fat knight, who came riding up on a eee fect We AE” her Tew lots BEHIND THE TIMES, SHE HASN'T EVEN HAD HER TAIL DOCKED” merry elephant, and he too essayed the prize for the Lady Nomination. And she gave to them each and all a boon of her fair hand, and by my rood! the black knight won and landed forthwith in the White Castle where sits ye Lady Co- lumbia. Then was Ye Doughty Theodore much and exceeding sore, and he wept great tears, and crossed a great river of Doubt, and called all men liars, and with much ado he subsided into the forest of Brief and Temporary Silence, until ye fat knight, dubbed Tafte, called upon him with strident voice to come, and Theo- dore yielded. But, says he, I am that modest and unassuming, were it not for ye fat Dub out there, much might tempt me to yield to the multitude, and yet would I not, God willing. So he came out. Then the Lady Nomination came again and made courtesy, and said she, Fair Knight, make much ado about the Wood- row and pitch on him well and maugre thy wit, jump on him, and I will make unhorse Ye Fat Dub from Ye Merry Elephant, and withal thou shalt sit there and give Ye Castle Progressive Ye Merry Ha Ha. Yet Ye Doughty Theodore strove with himself and said, By my rood! this is one hard matter to decide, for righteously did I mingle with George Perk and ye other Progs. And Ye Lady Nomination smiled again. And Ye Marvellous and Belligerent Knight Theodore then yielded. BRIDGE TERM “DOUBLE DUMMY”