Life, 1922-02-09 · page 3 of 34
Life — February 9, 1922 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Irish independence and governance through two components: **"Proposed Constitution for the Irish Free State"** mockingly presents absurd laws: no biting or hitting in churches, men fighting fairly, police non-interference in street brawls, and notably, clause (8) exempting violence against "Englishmen or Orangemen" from penalties—suggesting the Irish Free State would selectively enforce laws against British enemies. **The cartoon below** shows a horse-dealer convincing a customer to buy a dangerous horse by claiming confidence prevents trouble. The caption implies the dealer is advising the customer to "show" the horse you're unafraid—a metaphor likely commenting on Irish political negotiations or governance: appearing confident masks underlying instability or danger. Together, the page satirizes Irish political incompetence and the paradoxes of the newly-formed Irish Free State (established 1922).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Proposed Constitution for the Irish Free State JHEREAS, the citizens of this republic are unal- terably opposed to everything and everybody, in- ig one another; and 1ereas, they recognize that every citizen is entitled e, liberty and the pursuit of scrappiness; and iereas, whose business is it anyhow; now therefore solved that ) There shall be no biting, gouging or hitting in the hes. ) Every man shall take a man his own size. ;) Policemen will interfere in free-for-all fights at own risk, 4) The use of blackjacks, shillelahs and brass ckles shall be prohibited except at elections and county fairs. Said fairs or elections shal’ be held not less than once a week. (5) A penalty of five yards shall be imposed against the offending side in all cases of deliberate hacking, tripping, slugging or unnecessary roughness. (6) There shall be no formal rounds—they waste too much time. (7) Whenever a citizen shall shout “Nabocklish” all other citizens shall beat up the nearest policeman, Eng- lishman or other obstructions to traffic. (8) Where his opponent is an Englishman or Orange- man, no penalty or prohibition in this Act shall be held to apply to or control a citizen of the Irish Free State. Faugh a ballagh! Baron Ireland. Dealer: You'll never have no trouble with that ’orse if you just show him in the beginning that you ain’t afraid of ’im. Customer: And—er—how would you suggest my conveying that impression? comicbooks.com