Life, 1920-02-19 · page 17 of 48
Life — February 19, 1920 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **William Jennings Bryan**, the three-time presidential candidate (1896, 1900, 1908) who kept returning to politics despite repeated defeats. The poem mocks his persistent comebacks—comparing him to a phoenix that repeatedly "bobs" back up. References to "Non Persona Grata" and "Diplomatical Errata" likely allude to his service as Secretary of State under Wilson, then his resignation over foreign policy disagreements. The joke: Bryan was famous for his moral crusades and speaking tours ("Where Boards are spread with Snowy Tissue / He reappears and brings an Issue"). Life presents him as an indestructible political nuisance—always returning despite being repeatedly rejected by voters. The page also contains unrelated humorous anecdotes about a doctor and army service, plus two small cartoons comparing "Brawn vs. Brain"—boxer Dempsey earning $150,000 in minutes versus Professor Jones earning that amount teaching French over 50 years.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Che Biograph WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN AlOLto, Tuneful Twin of Dian, We sing of William Jennings Bryan, Whom neither Fate nor Time may quell, * Our Phoenix-bird, our Immortelle! \ Hundred Times his Bones are planted, His Mournful Threnody is chanted, Yet up he'll bob, the Lord knows when, To chortle, “Here We Are Again!” When Diplomatical Errata Had made him Non Persona Grata, Propelled by no Rude Force behind, He Blandly Tactfully Resigned. Says he, “ My Views, I know, distress you. (Yes, that’s my hat.) Good-by. God bless you!” And off he goes, alas, alack! But don’t you worry He'll be back, Where Boards are spread with Snowy Tissue He reappears and brings an Issue, While all the Diners cry, “ Polic Here comes that dratt Dove of Peace!” Arthur Guéterman, “pers your son ever complain?” “Whenever he does, | bring out his army uniform.” The Gentleman: THAT WAS AN ODD MARRIAGE. THINK OF S}IING THAT PACE ACROSS THE BREAKFAST TABLE, FOR LIFE. The Lady: WWICH FACE, MY DEAR? Curtailed Treatment \ ill in a strange city, Jones summoned a physi- an whose office was near-by. u are suffering from overwork and the heat, and stay in bed three days,” the doctor said. “I'll drop ry day, and when you can be moved I'll send you up sanitarium for two weeks’ rest.” es peered at the doctor closely. Veren’t you in the army?” he asked. “Attached to mipty-steenth Regiment?” 1 that day I was overcome by the heat after six drilling, didn’t you tell me to beat it back to my ny and report for duty next morning or I'd be court- ted?” BRAWN VS. BRAIN er—I don't remember.” YROF, DEMPSEY WILL RE- WHILE PROF, JONES Il, 1 do.” Jones answered decisively. “Here's your CEIVE ONE HUNDRED AND ABOUT THAT AMOU ; 5 . A ; FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FIFTY YEARS, TEACHING I'm practicing some economies I learned in a uni IN A FEW MINUTES’ FicHT FRENCH +o IT won't need that room in your rest cure, thanks.” WITH A FRENCHMAN comicbooks.com