Life, 1919-10-02 · page 41 of 48
Life — October 2, 1919 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical dialogue about Irish independence, likely from the 1920s era of Irish political upheaval. The sketch mocks the process of selecting Ireland's first president. **The figures:** G.B.S. (George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish playwright), George Moore (Irish writer), W.B. Yeats (Irish poet), and Pádraic Colum (Irish writer) debate installing Eamonn De Valera as president. The satire suggests these literary figures are inappropriately involved in serious state matters. **The joke:** The scene is chaotic—citizens cheer wildly, someone gets hit with an orange and dragged out, there are arguments about Irish names and symbols (fairies, Home Rule). De Valera's appointment happens almost accidentally amid the pandemonium. **The point:** The cartoon satirizes how Ireland's political leadership emerged from literary circles and passionate but disorganized public debate, suggesting the process was more theatrical than rational. The final interruption ("I want to clean th' hall") undercuts the solemnity with mundane reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GB. S: our first President, and it behooves me—— Grosce Moore: Why does it be- hoove you? G.B.S. (ignoring Moore): ——be- hooves me to take active steps to in- stall him in his glorious office— Groxce Moore: I protest. I protest in the name of the Revival of Irish Literature. As symbolical of such, he should have a fairy godmother. Cmzens: Hurray! Wut Yeats: Oh, goodness, be his fairy godmother. (The citi: heer Yeats long and vigorously.) Paprtac Corum: I don't like his same. I don’t think it’s Irish. Take my own name, for instance—— (He is hit on the head with an orange und dragged out.) GB. S.: Eamonn De Valera, by the power invested in me by myself — (There are loud cries out. ) Cmzexs: Who be makin’ all that yellin’? First Citizen: I'M go see. GBS: invested in me by myself and the people of this great hation—— First Citizen (returning): "Tis a sang of A. P. A.’s yellin’ “ Home Rule.” Shall we go for ’em, OWNE NAME IN EVERY PAIR down wid This name will never appear in poor gloves. For 142 years ithas typified Style, Fit and Durability in Also inctodes oth: seecane, Mesratee $21 $2. 0 paiva ‘ ‘and Table of Contents What Does Your Mirror Reflect? Are you proud and happy because it re- flects an altogether charming skin? Or are you discour- aged because you have tried so many treatments and still your skin looks muddy, oily and colorless? Give Resinol Soap a trial. Its soothi efresh- ing lather, se: every pore, and helps to cleanse them from the impurities which have lodged there, giving the skin a chance to brea esinol NOap Crmizexs: Yeeeowwwww! (They GBS: T pronounce yon Eamonn De Valera, First or THE Rerusiic or Iretan CH funses and watt. Prestpen There is no en. Eamonn De Vetera ( hand to stop cheering) lic, 1 Gacuc Bouscue: Out wid yez both 1 want to clean th’ hall. (Thr CG RS. and ti Henr resident.) Curtain Wiliam Hanemarn A Dressing” Room Dialogue comicbooks.com