Life, 1919-05-22 · page 17 of 42
Life — May 22, 1919 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical story mocking political leadership and mediocrity. The "Peace House" (likely the White House) contains a "Head Oracle" (the President) who requires absolute silence for contemplation on important matters. The joke centers on **Bill von Herst**, a mediocre figure who disrupts this sacred silence but faces no consequences—the Private Secretary explains the Head Oracle "never minds anything he does," suggesting cronies or incompetent associates enjoy special protection regardless of their behavior. The arrival of poor "business men" seeking help—promptly ejected with water and mockery—satirizes the administration's indifference to ordinary citizens' needs. The cartoon "The Apotheosis of Mediocrity" (bottom) reinforces this theme through caricature, likely depicting the elevation of incompetent figures to power. The satire suggests leadership operates through absurdity and favoritism rather than merit or genuine problem-solving.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
vas early evening in the Peace ouse. The Head Oracle had gone take a few moments’ much d rest, and the Private Secretary tioned everybody to keep quict THE GIRL WHO HAS JUST BEEN KISSeD An Interruption “He frequently thinks during this period,” said the Private Secretary, “and it might be fatal to the world at large if he were interrupted.” At. this moment Bill, von Herst Seciahss. THE APOTHEOSIS OF MEDIOCRITY uttered a loud guffaw, and began to beat a tattoo on the inside wall. Some painstaking person started forward to stop the rash one, but the Private Sec- retary laid a heavy hand on him he said, “that Bill von Herst can do anything he likes? “Don't you know, The Head Oracle never minds any- thing he does.” He had there was a knock at the door. A scarcely finished when bedraggled lot of human beings, in all stages of poverty, stood huddled to- gether on the outside. “Boys,” said the Private Secretary, “here come those business mer What shall we do with them?” Shouts of “Give them the hook!” were heard on all sides. Some thought- ful person threw a large pail of water on them, dsamid shrieks of laughter they vanished in the dim dis- tance, “ And now, gentlemen,” said the Pri- vate Secreta “let us meditate upon some of the larger issues of the day.” comicbooks.com