Life, 1911-06-01 · page 19 of 52
Life — June 1, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1911 Life magazine satirizes American press arrogance during King George V's coronation. The cartoon depicts "J. Bounder Ballingford," Life's fictional correspondent, as so important that he's literally staying with the King and arranging the entire coronation ceremony. The satire mocks several targets: 1. **American journalistic hubris**: British papers fawn over Ballingford as indispensable; one claims Life is "the only serious publication in America"—obvious flattery Life invented itself. 2. **Intrusive American reporters**: The Westminster Gazette's quip about Ballingford breaking into the Queen's apartments for private photographs satirizes aggressive press behavior. 3. **Commercialism**: Selling Ballingford's photo copies for ten dollars per hundred reflects American sensationalism. 4. **The absurd program**: His coronation itinerary (including "Great Army of Unemployed" and suffragettes in "harem skirts") mocks how American papers might trivialize British ceremonies or inject social commentary. The joke: Life portrays its own correspondent as so self-important that Britain's entire coronation revolves around him—exaggerating American press narcissism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tn OUR CORRESPONDENT ARRANGES PROGRAMME OF CORONATION (WITH KING'S ASSISTANCE) London Relieved Life’s Special Coronation Correspondent Having Arrived, W are pleased to announce that our special coronation correspondent, |. Bounder Ballingford, has arrived in London after a stormy passage. Owing. to the crush, he is now rooming with King George. The London papers them selves as extremely gratified that the most distinguished representative of the American press is safely lodged in Buck- Palace. Says the Westminster express ingham Gozette: “Tt is very fortunate that the coro- nation will be reported for our Ameri- can cousins in the best possible style. Mr. Ballingford is not only a represen- tative American citizen, but he imbibes the very best standards. Yesterday he broke into the Queen's apartments and succeeded in getting a set of private photographs which will be reproduced by a syndicate of American papers. It is thoughtful acts like these that endear us to the American press. We hope our own journalistic brothers will live and learn.” the Ceremonies Will Now Proceed The London Times: “That admirable spirit of courtesy which has always characterized the American people, we are glad to state, fit. representative in one J. Bounder Ballingford, who will report the coronation for the American paper, Live, which is, we understand, the only serious publication in America. Mr. Ballingford’s arrival has been awaited with considerable anxiety, as nothing could be done without him. He rode with the King yesterday in the park and was greeted with loud cheers by every- one,” The following is the, first news that we have received direct from our corre- spondent, whose picture we also publish in this issue. We shall continue, by the way, to publish Mr. Ballingford’s pic- ture every week. In case anyone would like copies for private or home use) we will furnish them in lots of one hundred for ten dollars. Loxpox, May spondence to 15—(Special corre- Lire): I have been closeted with the King all day, making up the programme. This is by no means an easy job, but I expect to have it ar ranged to my satisfaction very soon. The latest plan 3 follows: Imperial Foot Guards. Two regiments of Hussars. Winston Churchill on horseback. Mrs. Asquith and daughter in acro plane. The German Army. Myself and the King, in gold buggy, which has been in use here so long. Right Hon. Lloyd George, Chane lor of the Exchequer, in overalls, typifying the condition of the national treasury. Twenty-five pajamas. Company of kings and queens now out of work, headed by legend, “Great Army of Unemployed.” Lords of the Admiralty, Knights of the Garter, and twenty thousand suf- fragettes in harem skirts smoking corn- cob pipes. (This is a little idea of my bishops in white silk Ccomicbooks.com