Life, 1911-10-12 · page 19 of 48
Life — October 12, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine satirizes wealthy American high society through gossipy social announcements with absurdly transparent fictional names—"Miss Galoopsie Smelter" (Pittsburgh steel heiress), "the Earl of Borrowmore," "Mr. John Munnidrunk" (clearly a drunk)—mocking the pretensions and superficiality of the upper class. The humor derives from the thinly-veiled caricatures highlighting that elite society marriages are purely financial transactions ("twelve million dollars in her own right"). The accompanying essay mocks the *New York Times* as humorless and overly serious compared to other newspapers, portraying it as an obsequious defender of plutocracy and big business—"the Gibraltar of plutocracy"—willing to suppress humor in service of the wealthy. The cartoon "An Afternoon Reception" depicts a visitor at a society event, likely illustrating the stilted formality of such gatherings. Overall, the page satirizes Gilded Age wealth, mercenary marriages, and the press's cozy relationship with the wealthy elite.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
T is whispered that the young Duke of Debtford is seriously in love with Miss Galoopsie Smeltcr, of Pittsburg. She is a charming girl and has about twelve million dollars in her own right. There arc several Smelters in Pittsburg, but Miss Galoopsie is one of the Smelters. Mrs. Graiton Kloze, in crossing her own drawing room one afternoon last week, looked out of onc of the front windows of her palatial mansion on upper Fifth Avenue. As luck would have it, one of our most gifted society reporters happened to be standing on the sidewalk at that particular moment. Mrs, Kloze was one of the Philadelphia Slumburs. Rumors of a very pretty little romance are coming across the water. It that during the coronation festiv the Earl of Borrowmore fell violently in love with Miss Edith Galore, only daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Boudel Galore. It is purely a love match. The Earl of Borrowmore is very popular, and an all- around sport. None of the Borrow- mores has died of overwork. Mr. John Munnidrunk is having a new limousine body by Tiffany put on his last year’s yacht. His 1912 yacht will not be completed before September. Society will learn with regret that some hot words were passed lately be- tween Mrs, Hardy Snubber and Mrs. Khantbee Satton. It all happened at a bridge party at the Women’s Koktale Club. Mr. and Mrs. Billy de Splay, who are at their country seat on Isle-Be-Blode, are entertaining a series of house parties for the autumn, Among their distin- The ‘ Times” HE New York Times is unique among newspapers. Every time a public man makes a sensible remark it guished guests are Count Fritto di Bank- ruppski and Miss Hootsic Dussyt, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Munni Dussyt. It is whispered that an engagement will soon be announced. Another love match. Mr. John Hogg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merger Hogg, has arrived at Lenox from Newport. Miss Shaidic Past and Miss Funnie Rekkod may spend the coming winter at Pittsburgh. Miss Rekkod is, as every- body knows, first cousin to the Hon. Saymolde Bluff; the Bluffs have always been fashionable. Mr. La Montague Goat received a let- ter last Thursday from his brother, Ful- lern A. Goat, who is now motoring in the Champagne country. Willie Jinnan- selte and Goodole Thurston are with him. sheds tears. How different it is in this respect from the Sunt No matter how bitter a pill the Sun has to take, and they come pretty fast in these muck-raking days, it will at least go through the motions of smiling, even though all the motions are on the wrong side of its face. Not so the Times, which considers smiling, if mot a crime, at least an undue concession to levity. We have been told that these tears of the Times are of the crocodile sort, but we are loath to believe this. We pre- fer to give it all possible credit for being a loyal, earnest, sincere, solemn and unblushing apostle of the dollar without any ifs or ands or buts. As the Gibraltar of plutocracy, it is as unyielding as a moncy-lender should be. Motto for Ministers PEN your mouth and shut your eyes, We'll give you something that’s mere surmise. Wire Indolence is Bliss, ‘tis Folly to arise. AN AFTERNOON RBCEPTION comicbooks.com