Life, 1902-02-20 · page 9 of 20
Life — February 20, 1902 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Supreme Test" Cartoon Analysis The main illustration satirizes royal protocol and American egalitarianism. It depicts what appears to be a European prince (identifiable by elaborate dress) visiting America, with the caption referencing a child who "cannot tell a lie" — likely alluding to the George Washington cherry-tree legend. The joke hinges on the contrast: Americans boast Washington "never caught in a lie," yet the text suggests even a truthful American child might tactlessly expose the prince's pretensions. The satire mocks both European aristocratic formality and American claims to honest directness. The accompanying "Publishing Business" joke and fishing cartoon are separate, lighter humor pieces typical of Life's miscellaneous content format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SUPREME TEST, “PATHER, THAT LITTLE BOY 18 GEORGIE WASHINGTON. HE CAN'T TRLL A Lin.” “CAN'T, EM? WAIT TILL HE RETURNS PROM THIS TISUING TRIP.” Felt It. oe Ho’ long was I up in the air?" asked the victim of a subway explosion. “Oh, about a minute. Why?" “ What a long time to be away from New York!" The Publishing Business. 4 ‘THEY publish an immenseamount ~ of rot.” “Oh, immense! So much rot, in- deed, that their profits enable them to get ont no fewer than two good books a year without embarrassing themselves financially.” 149 The Dear Prince. rs. SNOBBART-Hante is polishing up her jewels to receive the Prince. Something tells her that he is a perfect gentleman: quite different from ordinary people. And she isn't mentioning any names. Mrs. General Electric hopes to have him at her own honse. Mer husband, the General, says there's nothing in this world that money won't do. Mrs, Ollin Bonds and Mrs. Ammi Innitt both say the General is right. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Snub- bor regret deeply that episode of the opera box. And Mrs. Stuckon Show thinks the least we Americans can do anyway is lo give up everything to a Royal visitor and be grateful for his presence—God bless him ! Mrs. John Henry Jones says the whole business makes her sick. That, so far as she is con- cerned, the Prince and the whole Royal outfit may go to Ballyhac. But Mrs. Jones is so brusque: doncherknow. EACHER: Can anyone tell any remarkable fact about George Washington ? Tommy: He was never caught in a lie. BOUT all tho scientists of the present day ac- complish is to straighten and extend the road to nowhere. Mra, Shad; 1 Witt, GIVE YoU A GooD ‘MEAL AND A HOME-MADE PIE IP YOU WILL SAW 80ME woop Fon mE. Wandering Cod : NOT A SAW?INI, EXCUSE ME, MADAM, I'M comicbooks.com