Life — September 19, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

fe al Ul gel oe The Boy President Or Rollo in the White House V The Submarine Boat “T TNCLE GEORGE,” said Rollo, “look at that funny little boat over there , it is siaking—what a calamity!” Mr. George smiled sadly. “My dear Rollo,” he said, as he allowed his smile to ooze away, “it is as natural for that boat to sink as it is for a duck to dive; itis built that way. Rollo was surprised. Have you never heard of a submarine boat?” “Is it as natural for it to rise to the surface after it has dived as it is for a duck ? that inmy Navy? Have you ever been under water in it?” “No; I have not,” replied Mr. George. “And why haven't you been?” asked Rollo. “Tam Do you mean to tell me, Uncle George, that there is such a boat as cretary of State, not of the Navy,” replied Mr. George “T haven't abstained from going into the boat because I am afraid of going down in it, but it is the doubt about coming up again which has deterred me, for the machinery is very complicated, and it some- times fails to work properly, and I am sure that under such circumstances I ‘should not find it agreeable to be at the bottom of the sea in a submarine boat.” “Why, Uncle George,” said Rollo, “I maintain that there is no sport or undertaking worthy of a man’s attention which does not involve some danger to his life. I have decided to go down in that submarine boat to the bottom of the sea, and I expect you to accompany me.” “Tam afraid that it will be very damp in the boat at the bottom of the sea,” said Mr. George, “and you know, my dear Rollo, that I am a crucl sufferer from rheumatism ; and then besides, think of the complication of the machinery, the numer- ous wheels, cogs, shafts and electrical contrivances in which one’s clothes may get so easily entangled. No, Mr. Presi- dent, this business of going down to the bottom of the se in a submarine boat I do not approve of.” Are you afraid to go down in it?” asked Rollo. “Rollo,” said Mr. George, “I will not say that I do not know what fear is, but nevertheless I may claim to be a brave man; and it is my contention that the truly courageous man should not risk his life rashly or unnecessarily. Now, as no good purpose can be subserved by such a performance as going down in a submarine boat, I must decline to do it.” “Uncle George,” said Rollo, ‘I fear that you have very little sporting blood in your veins.” The Boy President then took a boatswain’s whistle from his pocket and blew a shrill blast upon it At the sound of the whistle the Presidential barge at once shot into sight bearing toward their wharf on the shore near by. “Now, Uncle George,” said Rollo, as he stepped into the launch, ‘follow me.” Mr. George walked reluctantly on board. “To the submarine Flounder,” ordered Rollo. At the com- mand the launch sped through the water toward the Flounder. “T have decided to navigate the submarine boat myself,” said Rollo, ‘I do not believe that it is as difficult as you say to navigate a submarine boat. I believe in a man being “It was corking,” cried Rollo self-reliant and undertaking to do everything that other men do.” “Rollo,” said Mr. George, as the launch drew alongside of the Flounder, “to go down in this craft at all is to me an unpleasant performance; but to embark in it when an ama- teur, however distinguished, is about to try his hand at the management of it for the first time is not to be thought of for a moment.” “Very well,” said Rollo, “as the submarine seems very small and your coat tails are very long and very much in the way and very likely to get into the machinery, I think that you may as well stay on board the launch.” comicbooks.com