Life, 1893-10-05 · page 13 of 16
Life — October 5, 1893 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine piece satirizes the appointment of a new U.S. ambassador to Italy, likely James Van Alen (though not explicitly named in visible text). The article mockingly defends him against various criticisms: **The charges against him:** - He physically resembles the Prince of Wales - He speaks Italian rather than exclusively English - He made substantial donations to the Democratic campaign - He is wealthy **The satire's point:** Life sarcastically argues these objections are absurd. The piece suggests that Senate opposition to Van Alen relies on trivial grounds (his appearance, language skills, political donations, wealth) rather than actual diplomatic qualifications. By defending him with tongue-in-cheek logic, the magazine critiques how patronage and personal characteristics—rather than merit—influenced diplomatic appointments in the Gilded Age. The illustrations show a woman returning (top) and a mounted figure (bottom), likely related to the satirical commentary on diplomatic representation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TIME BRINGS HER BACK. IFE trusts that our newly ap- pointed ambassador to Italy not so defective an American as is represented. It is charged against him that he looks like the Prince of Wales, but the Senate will probably condone such a resemblance if con- vinced that it was purely an accident of birth and not attended by Walesian sentiments or characteristics. It is further charged that instead of being satisfied to speak exclusively the lan- guage of his country, Mr. Van Alen has allowed himself to acquire the tongue of a monarchical foreign people, to wit: the Italians; but even that ought not to be considered sufficient: ground of rejection. If it is true that he made large contributions to the Demo- cratic campaign fund last year. of course that is a serious but such minister: Mr. Morton and Mr. Reid were found able in spite of it. The fact that Mr. Van Alen is rich is of course deplor- able, but if it is to weigh against him, no time should be lost defec after the silver kings in the Senate have consented to let the public business go on, in providing that the pay of our ambassadors in Europe should be sufficient to cover their reasonable expenses. comicbooks.com