Life, 1909-06-24 · page 26 of 29
Life — June 24, 1909 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and promotional content** rather than political satire. The dominant feature is a lengthy anecdotal narrative by William J. Locke explaining how Moberly Bell became editor of the London *Times*. The story—told at a luncheon of New York editors—describes Bell's adventurous path: he temporarily covered Egypt for the *Times*, impressed management, received a promotion letter while on a Nile expedition, survived a piratical attack on his boat, and was captured by a brigand captain who, upon reading Bell's appointment letter, recognized its significance. The narrative appears designed to entertain and humanize Bell's rise at a prestigious publication through a dramatic (likely embellished) tale of adventure and fortunate circumstance. The page also contains **period advertisements**: Milo Egyptian cigarettes, a "Don't-Snore" anti-snoring device, Rad-Bridge playing cards, and Life Publishing Company's promotional offerings of photographic prints and a picture book. No clear political cartoon or satire is evident on this page—it's primarily a celebrity anecdote wrapped around commercial advertisements typical of early 20th-century magazine publishing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
by s Moberly Bell At a little luncheon of magazine editors and writers in New York, William J. Locke, called upon for a few remarks, rose in his pleasant, diffident fashion and stood nervously gripping the back of his chair. Really,” he began, “I don’t know hew I can make a specch, for I haven't a thing to talk to you about. But, | wonder if any of you have ever heard the true story of how Moberly Pell became cditor of the London Times? Of course you are all journalists here, and I understand that no word of this secret history goes beyond these four walls.”” There was the tense siler and the author of The Belot his tale: “You see, Moberly Pell happened to be in Cairo, and the Egyptian correspondent of the London Times, a friend of his, falling seriously ill, asked Moberly Bell to assume his duties; and so for several months Moberly Bell acted as deputy Egyptian correspondent for the Tir Now, Moberly Bell's were particularly brilliant—very brilliant, indeed—and the man- agement of the Times were immensely pleased; of course they were also familiar with Moberly Bell’s excellent record of gene as a position on the staff of t vacant about that. time, they Moberly Bell the post of ma wrote to him ¢ of deep interest, ed Vagabond began letters, decided to offer aging editor, and Cairo to that effect ‘ow the letter missed Moberly Bell, who was. on a little expedition toward the headwaters of the Nile, but was forwarded and reached near his destination. On reading the flattering offer he was naturally highly delighted and de- termined to hurry back to accept; so, not waiting for the regular steamer, he chartered a dahabiyeh and started down the Nile. “But on the way his dahabiych was attacked by a sort of piratical dahabiyeh, and after a brisk fight, in the course of which a dozen or so of Moberly Bell's men were killed or wounded, his dahabiyeh was captured and he himself was seized, bound and brought before the pirate or brigand captain, who ordered him stripped and searched. Much to the captain's disgust all they found on Moberly Bell was his watch, a money- belt containing a few odd sovereigns and the let- ter appointing him managing editor of the Lon- don Times. “But this bandit captain was quite a remark- able man—intelligent and able, a man of educa- tion with a history and a past; he read the let- U.S. Pateot April 22rd, 1807, Trade 3 Makes you breathe through the nose, Comfortable, conventen Gold filed, guaranteed 20 years. Postpald 81.00, If after 30 da; fair trial you are not satisfled we will refund money upon Its re- turn, SIMPLE DEVICE COMPANY, P.O. Box1060. Dept. G. SURBRUG, Maker, ‘Don’t- Snore” Prevents snoring, mouth-breathing and athletes’ “dry mouth.” NEW YORK, N. Y. Egyptian Cigarettes. Do you know what Qua ish Cigarette? If not, get a box of MILO‘ Then, any other cigarette, and try same, side You'll note the delicate, aromatic mildness of the ‘t MILO." with this richness in flavor) is what costs in Turkish Tobacco, and it's just this that makes the Perfect cigarette. You'll find it in No Other. erfection is obtained only by owning our own plantation in Turkey —the careful watchfulness from the seedling to the finished article. ide. ity means in a Turk Mildness (yet cL An Tdeal Bridge Ca Sept. 24 lors geld ed Brice Mlestrated catalog Radcliffe & Co., Sew 07 Se UB LINEN PLAYING CARDS ‘Design of back, hemstitched linen, pat. Red, Blue, Brown, Greewy 25 cents per pack: cents, Dealers everywhere or sent Postpai on receipt of ridge aceewories tree, Address Dept. 1 rk, 144 Pearl St., & Loodon. = Now York. ter, and, concluding that Moberly Bell was a per son of importance, he—ah—killed Moberly and became editor of the Times himselt! TracitrR: Johnnie, do you know what a blot ter is? Jouxsie: hunts fer while de ink gets dry Bell Yessum. It's de t'ing wot Do You Ever Copyright 1908 by Lite Pu Co. PLAYING weipcEe India Print, 22x18 in, $2.00 Copyrigh 1908 by Lit Pan, Oo ONE TOUCH OF NATURE 20x15 in, $1.00 Copyright 1908 by Life Pad Ca THEIR HOF! India Print, 22x18 in, $2.00 LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 17 West 313t Street, Then beautify your home with cheerful things. On receipt of twenty-five cents | we will send you our little | book, the new pocket edition, | of LIF PRINTS con- | taining 160 reproductions of these most artistic and pleas- ure-giving pictures. fr | fs | i) — eff Always a Welcome Gijt ‘The prints described, whose pricesare given, are PHOTO- GRAVURES of the highest possible quality and finish. Neither care nor expense has been spared @ attain the very best artistic results. 160 Pictures | . ad Zz for 25 Cents a || NEW YORK comicbooks.com