Life, 1906-07-05 · page 25 of 40
Life — July 5, 1906 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical story illustrated with a dramatic scene showing an exotic Eastern ruler (called "the Kadoot") encountering a modern automobile. The humor lies in the clash between ancient, ornate Eastern monarchy and 1920s American consumer culture. The setup: A wise man describes an automobile to an Eastern potentate using flowery, reverential language—treating the car as if it were a miraculous divine object. The ruler, accustomed to absolute power and exotic luxury, casually decides to purchase it from Bridgeport, Connecticut for $4,000 (equivalent to a substantial fortune in local currency). The satire mocks: - **American commercialism**: Even exotic Eastern despots are susceptible to American sales pitches - **Orientalist stereotypes**: The exaggerated, romanticized portrayal of Eastern rulers - **Industrial progress**: Positioning the automobile as civilization's ultimate achievement The illustration emphasizes this contrast—the opulently-dressed figures and palace setting juxtaposed against the modern motorcar on a dusty road.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*~LIFE: - 821 “SHE LOOKED aT His IMPLORINGLY” “at whose nod the spheres stop and at whose frown the heavens sob, I have read the saying of the far people beyond the sea. This, O Lord of the Sun, is an automobile—a thing that flies over the ground.” “So I see,” it be obtained ? “O All Powerful, it says the place is Bridesport, wherever that is, in Connecticut, wherever that may be, and the price is four thousand dollars.” “Dollars. What is that?” “O Keeper of the Sun and Wind, a dollar corresponds to a salet of our money.” “Enough.” The wise man withdrew. For some moments the Light of the Sun and Ruler of the Universe sat and smoked in silence. In the distance faint and clear like a tinkling bell through the wonderful atmo: phere came the sound of a woman's voice. One of the ladies of the Royal Harem was evidently joyous. Her song was characteristic: id the Kadoot, impatiently. ‘And where can O lover of my soul, my Lord In the clouds of the heavens, and in The long grass of the table-land, ‘The Universe sings of thee— Thot art a bridegroom of the morning, And the moon radiates thy whisperings. ‘The gentle wind from the South— The song broke off abruptly. Just as abruptly the Kadoot, tossing his cigarette into the fountain in front of them, arose and nodded to the Lazeer, who followed his Lord and Master. ‘They passed through the grand corridor of the palace, slaves and attachés on every side prostrating themselves as they glided along They came at last to the door of the Royal Treasury. They entered. The keeper, prone upon the floor, the Kadoot stirred gently with his foot. “Get me two bags of the yellow treasure.” The keeper brought them forward. The Kadoot tumed to the Lazeer. “Sirrah, take this gold, go out to this place—wherever it is This story is continued on page 826 comicbooks.com