Life, 1911-06-01 · page 20 of 52
Life — June 1, 1911 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes an American journalist's aggressive coverage of a royal visit, likely King Edward VII's 1902 tour. The main narrative mocks American press intrusion and sensationalism: the reporter boasts of photographing the royal family constantly, breaking into private residences (the Duke of Fife's bedroom), and giving unsolicited lectures at Oxford University about American superiority—all to keep the masses entertained and distracted from economic exploitation by "magnates and trusts." The cartoon below depicts a domestic scene where a woman complains about tough bread crust to her husband "Jackie," suggesting nostalgic criticism of modern conveniences replacing homemade quality. The satirical "Fashion Proverbs" and "Old Age Rosenheimer" joke about German materialism mock contemporary social pretensions. The overall target: American journalistic excess, boastfulness abroad, and manipulation of public attention through trivia.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE BRI own, showing Yankee _ reciprocity.) The King and I get on very well. He is not quite used yet to our American ways, “Bounder, old boy,” this morning, “you are Unbend. Be one of us. have you carry on a little, But I shall not do this. I am here to uphold our American traditions. To- day I secured the services of ¢i photographers, and we are having a series made of the King and his fami from the moment they ¢ in the morn ing until they go to bed at night. S$ of the ladies playfully objected, but I explained that only in this way could the American public be kept amused, ant that if. they amused they would begin to complain about th they are being robbed by the and trusts. “Anything,” I said, “but that ‘ou sce how it is. We people in power must stand together. Unless we divert the masses by a constant serics of inter- esting details about lost.” After they had seen the point, they all readily acquiesced. I broke into the home residence of the Duke of Fife last night, much to his surprise and amusement. Caught the Duke in his bedchamber, just about to retire. He was at first inclined to resent my entrance, but when I explained that I was an American reporter he apologized. Very enterprising,” he volunteered, as I shook up his family and had their he said to me too dignified. We expect to were not ourselves, we are ROOM LEAVES FOK THE OFFICE pictures drawn by our staff artist. When I got back, the King, who is a light sleeper, wanted to know where I had been. He was greatly diverted by my account. By the way, while I think of it, yesterday morning I speech before Oxford University. other things I said: “While this is a very old college, it doesn’t compare, of course, with the one made a Among Mrs. J. WHY, JACKIE, THIS CRUST IS AS TOUGH AS LEATHER. we hay Kankakee. What you need here is good red blood. Send out your press agent to some of our institutions and you will get some valuable hints on how to run a thought factory. Why, the salaries they pay in Harvard have got yours beaten to a frazzle I think they rather liked my speech The King joked me gently about it after wards. He says I have such qu am of Germany has just arrived They want him to sleep in a cot at the foot of my bed, but I won't permit it The dignity of American journalism must be preserved at all costs. Send me another million. dinner to-night’ to Mrs Smarten. J Fashion Proverbs OO much trimming is a dangerous thing. Never put on to-day what you put on yesterday. A frump in any other gown look as cd, Harem skirts rush in where hobbles fear to tread. People with waste basket heads shoult never wear waste sket hats. I give a Badleigh B. B. would LD Ase Rosexueimer (on entering the kingdom of His Most Satanic Majesty): Mein Gott, but vot a lot of moneys it must cost to heat dis place! you ouGHT TO HAVE TASTED THE KIND THAT FATHER USED TO MAKE.