Life, 1923-02-08 · page 13 of 36
Life — February 8, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American politics through a child's perspective during the Warren G. Harding administration. **Key references:** - "The Land of Counterfeit" mocks political dishonesty and parties making empty promises to voters - "Election Hill" appears to reference political manipulation and vacant leadership - "Bloc City" satirizes political factionalism and patronage systems - References to "President Harding" and the "White House" place this during his presidency (1921-1923) - The balloon illustration labeled "CAUTION" suggests political hot air and inflated rhetoric The satire uses childlike innocence to expose adult political corruption—votes sent as "fleets," rulers driven from seats, and building political power through patronage rather than principle. The verses critique both major parties and Harding-era political dysfunction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Child’s Garden of Politi- cal Verses The Land of Counterfeit J{EN I was sick and lay a-bed, W had two Parties at my head; their speeches near me lay me happy all the day. And ¢ To kee; netimes for an hour or so d-my tin Progressives go, different uniforms and frills the towns and through the And s T wat With Amon h Sometimes I sent my votes in fleets To drive my rulers from their seats ; Or brought my sharpest fancies out And planted issues all about. I was the giant, great and. still, That -its upon Election Hill, And watches with his vacant wit The pleasant land of counterfeit. Bloc City Whar are you able to build with your blocs? Farn-yards and patronage, judges nd stocks. Boral) may wander and others go roam, But Capper’s quite building at home. happy while Great is my Senate with rostrum and With Presiden Harding on top of it His — descend in a sensible To \ hike little Shipstead is tossing the hay. This one wants credits and that one wants loans, Hard to Jim Watson a-rolling the hones! And see on the steps of the White House, the kings Bringing us baskets of presents and things. Now they have done it, down let it go! In a trice our Esch-Cummins law is laid low. Schedule by schedule, scattered and free, What is there left now for Wall Street to see? Up IN THE AIR Yet as I saw it, I see it again, The law and the prophets, the talk and-the men. For as long as I live and whate’er they may be, One bloc will look like another to me. A Good Play WE built a ship of wood and gum. It cost us quite a tidy sum; We filled it full of rubber pillows So it might sail upon the billows. We took a saw, some penny nails, And filled our little dinner pails. And Lasker said: “We'd better take An apple and a slice of cake.” Which did not seem enough to me To go a-sailing on the sea. Looking Forward Wuen Hughes is grown to man’s estate, He will be very proud and great. He'll tell those naughty Senate boys Not to make so damned much noise. Singing Or speckled Moscow Borah sings, And Daugherty of fees; While Lasker sings of bars and things In ships upon the seas. T. Kato sings in far Japan, Alphonso sings in Spain; And poor McCumber, tariff-man, Is singing in the rain. H. S. comicbooks.com