Life, 1911-09-28 · page 14 of 42
Life — September 28, 1911 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon titled "Historic Affinities" compares contemporary figures to historical counterparts. The caption references "Le Monde ou London s'amuse" and names "Jack London and Madame de Sevigné." The illustration depicts elegantly dressed women in classical/aristocratic poses with cherubs, styled after classical art. The accompanying text discusses a prisoner (Miss Lillington) and mentions "Andrew Carnegie," "John Doe Smith," and stock exchange dealings, suggesting commentary on wealth, class, and social pretension. The satire appears to mock the affectations of wealthy society figures by comparing them to historical aristocracy—implying modern American wealth-holders are mimicking European refinement while their actual behavior (the referenced financial dealings and prisoner situation) reveals underlying moral or social contradictions. The specific historical and personal references are now obscure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HISTORIC AFFINITIES “Le Monde ou London amuse ” JACK LONDON AND MADAME DE SEVIGNE ficiently interesting and sensational to excite morbid curios- ity. If it does excite morbid curiosity, if it does give great reading public an opportunity to view the lovely p oner every other day for weeks—nay, months—and moreover and to wit, if it docs in addition give our wives and daugh- ters an opportunity to see some of the beautiful gowns worn by the entrancing prisoner—why that, in the opinion of this Court, is sufficient and it shall be so ordered.” The prisoner is represented by learned counsel, Messrs. Mudsticker, Cheltenham, Carbuncleton, Kibb, Punkleworthy, Ramshackle & Biffum having kindly consented to take the Mr. Biffum when seen said: We shall promise some sensational developments. Our is in this heart and soul. It is true that all our time re- cently has been taken by the United States Government to undertake the investigation of certain well-known trusts, but these can wait. I am now preparing the line of defense.” Our readers will be glad to learn that we have hired a spacious show window on Fifth avenue, where the prisoner's wardrobe, to be worn during her trial, will be on exinnt every afternoon and evening until further notice. Miss Lillington continues to bear up. Yesterday she was visited by her children in the family a jobile. Her hus- band, John Doe Smith, could not get away until after the closing of the Stock Exchange. That he once borrowed five dollars from Andrew Carnegie is now established beyond doubt and furnishes another link in the chain of evidence. Who wae Lydia Lillington’s brother-in-law? Did he once, when a poor young man, befriend Andrew Carnegie? Why did the prisoner use a pickle fork, instead of a stecl hat pin, upon which there is a duty? Through the courtesy of our advertisers, we are enabled comicbooks.com