Life, 1906-06-07 · page 15 of 42
Life — June 7, 1906 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical humor page from *Life* magazine featuring character sketches by Oliver Herford. The "Alphabet of Bores" presents social types through paired illustrations and witty verse: **A** mocks the "autograph bore"—people pestering famous authors for signatures, with the ironic twist that authors secretly need the attention. **B** caricatures the pretentious "bounder"—a social climber affecting Continental sophistication (French phrases, Rhine wine) while revealing his ignorance (confusing wine varieties). Additional sketches satirize patriotism (citizens profiting from war bonds rather than sacrifice), marital jealousy, and diplomatic awkwardness in marriage proposals. A final joke about "Grafter" suggests someone so corrupt his wealth came from either imprisonment or political office—both equally disreputable. The humor relies on gentle character mockery of recognizable social types rather than specific political figures or events.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“EDP'E* AN ALPHABET OF BORES By Oniver Herrorp f 1S the autograph bore Whom authors so loudly deplore; Tho’ it’s probable quite If the dears ceased to write, They’d deplore even more than before. Patriotism HEY beat the tom-toms long and loud; Seductive sang the bugle call, Until the patriot spirits proud Went forth to to stand or fall For glory and their native land, While other patriots’ love intense Cheered on the faithful hero band And issued bonds for the expense— Till war's red fever spent its force, And then, still other bonds to float, They did the handsome thing, of course, And gave a pension for a vote. Thomas Speed Mosby. Would Spoil It All “\ JAYBE your husband is a wee bit jealous,” suggests the friend. ‘Maybe he objects to your going to that sum- mer resort because he thinks you might flirt with some of the men there, Why don’t you tell him there are no people there but women and girls?” “Tf Ido that he will insist on going, too, at once.” B IS a bounder d/asé Who likes to appear quite aw fait; He purses his lips As his Rhine wine he sips, Tho’ he doesn’t know Hock from Tokay Diplomatic a R. GIDSMORE,” began the young man, “when you proposed to your wife—or to the estimable lady who is now Mrs. Gidsmore—did she tell you to ask her father?” “She did, my boy,” affably replied Mr. Gidsmore. “ And did you try to shirk the job?” “Well, come to think of it, I did. I—I believe I tried to get her to do the asking, ’pon my soul. Ha, ha!”” “And when you did ask him—of course, you had to speak to him finally””—— “Of course I did. Of course. “And when you did ask him, did your knees shake, and your tongue dry and did you have stage fright generall: “T was scared to death.” “Well, that’s the way I feel. I told Gladys I knew I could find some mutual bond of sympathy between us when I came to tell you that she has promised to marry me.”” “(RAFTER has made enough money to end his days with.” “Jail or Senate?” comicbooks.com