Life, 1911-08-10 · page 12 of 40
Life — August 10, 1911 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes wireless telegraph technology and European social pretension. The top illustration shows fashionably dressed figures on a beach with footprints forming morse code patterns, titled "Another Wireless." The accompanying text describes a conflict between the narrator and someone named William over a European romantic situation. The story mockingly presents a man ("von Bethmann-Hollweg or Herr von Schoen") receiving a wireless message about a romantic entanglement—"the Triple Entente"—creating a pun on diplomatic alliances. The lower illustration titled "OBEY THAT IMPULSE" depicts figures in conversation, suggesting impulsive romantic or social behavior. The satire combines contemporary wireless technology with European diplomatic tensions and romantic comedy, targeting both modern gadgetry and Old World pretensions that American readers would find amusing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Another Wircless seldom we can get you,” he said, “that we simply must celebrate.” I shall have to borrow his evening clothes— with possibly some slight alterations—but the court tailor quick workers, so everything will be all right. William ordered his family not to interrupt him while we had our interview. Occupying the same room with him, as I did at the coronation, I felt that I knew him very well, Noth+ ing like sleeping with a king to get on good terms with him We went over the European situation rapidly. I must say for William that he is a good talker. He tried to interest me in a painting of his he had just completed. “Punk,” I told him, He was inclined to resent it, which gave me an opportunity to give him a lecture. “The trouble with you,” I said, “is that you are sur- rounded by a lot of people whose business it is to flatter you; when you hear the truth from a real friend you don’t like it. Me a bigger man.” He thanked me with tears in his eyes and showed me a long pocm he had written “Why, my dear boy!" I exclaimed, when I had read the first page; “ we wouldn't print this at space advertising rates. You ought to study Ella Wheeler Wilcox for rhythm and Park- hurst for snap.” Then on second thoughts it occurred to me that it would be good business, even if the poem was so bad, to send it along, so I am cabling it for the next edition. Wil- 1 doesn't know this, but I'll be on the water before he finds it out I can look ahead and see that I might have with this European sit ad trouble ion if I hadn't arrived in the nick of time. Fortunately I am alone and consequently can use my best judgment. : Closing the door so that von Bethmann-Hollweg or Herr von" Schoen couldn’t hear us, 1 got down to business. “ First,” I said, sternly, “how about the Triple Entente? What are you going to do with it? How are you going to get rid of it?” “What should I get rid of it for?” he asked, in surprise. cly I knew him of old. “Now look here, old man,” I said. “None of that for me. “oneY THAT IMPULSE” comicbooks.com