Life, 1909-09-02 · page 19 of 48
Life — September 2, 1909 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces mocking early 1900s British society and technology: **"A Toast to Woman"** is a humorous alphabetical list of exaggerated adjectives celebrating feminine qualities, paired with a cartoon showing a woman in a forest with hunters—likely mocking sentimental Victorian praise of womanhood. **"Mr. Wells Pokes Up His Brethren"** critiques H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling's complaints that British men lack ambition in aviation. The article humorously defends Britain's reluctance to pursue flying, suggesting contentment with home isn't shameful. It implies Continental nations are developing aircraft primarily to invade England. **"The Ascent of the Aviator"** satirizes public opinion's dramatic reversal: the same aviator transforms from "fool inventor" to celebrated hero simply by remaining aloft longer—mocking fickle public sentiment toward new technology. **"Brute"** jokes that women universally recognize their romantic interest by his footsteps, then feign surprise—mocking women's performative behavior. The tone is gently satirical toward British reserve, women's courtship rituals, and the hype surrounding early aviation.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Toast To that cataleptic, Beautifical, Cabalistical, Debonair, Florescent, Heavenly, Iridescent, Judicious, Kriological, Lethiferous, Nonchalant, Obdurate, Palindromic, Quixotic, Romantic, Seraphic, Utopian, Winsome, Xerophthalmic, Yearning, Zootheite, WOMAN. Mr. Wells Pokes Up His Brethren R. H.G. WELLS joins Mr. Kipling in thumping the con- temporary Briton. Mr. Wells is mad because the Brit- ish don’t take more promptly and earnestly to wings. M. Bleriot, who first flew across the channel, is a Frenchman, and Mr. Wells grumbles that Americans, Frenchmen, Ger- mans and Brazilians are in the new aerial game, but English- men not. “Our homes and schools,” he says, “are relatively dull and uninspiring; there is no intellectual guide or stir in them, and to that we owe this new generation of nicely be- haved, unenterprising sons, who play.golf and dominate the tailoring of the world,”’ while the youth of other nations fly. It is a sad case, of course; but may there not be a little drop of consolation for these British complainants in the re- Mrs, Bug: MY, BUT AIN’T THOSE PALL STYLES JUST GRAND! AGF ne to YES, IT ALWAYS HAPPENS LIKE THIS WHEN YOUR LAST CARTRIDGE 1S EXPENDED, DOESN'T IT? flection that the first thought and purpose of the Continental flyers is to improve the facilities for getting to England. In- asmuch as the English are already in England, and like it there, is it not natural that they should be slow to tease the powers of the air for means to get away? The fault of the contemporary Briton seems to be that he is too nearly contented. He likes what he has got and, perhaps, is sluggish in the pursuit of change. If he also val- ues his neck somewhat higher than other people, it is no more, after all, than one should expect The Ascent of the Aviator N the air one minute—“ Another fool inventor."’ In the air three minutes. Hasn't he killed himself ye In the air five minutes: Il the fools ain't dead yet In the air thirty minutes—"“ Mr. Ayrider, the well-known aviator.”" In the air one hour—" Our distinguished fellow-country- man."" In the air one hour and a quarter—“ The wizard of the air.” In the air one hour and a half—* The Legion of Honor could have been bestowed on no worthier man." Brute IC: She knows his footsteps a mile off in the midst of a hundred others, sees him coming from the corner of her eye, pats her hair and smooths her dress, and jumps a foot with surprise when he ascends the piazza steps. Curxic: Who? Cynic All of ‘em! ANY a man will say, “yes, I understand,” when he thinks you don't know what you're talking about. comicbooks.com