Life, 1913-06-05 · page 23 of 52
Life — June 5, 1913 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from *Life* magazine (circa 1912-1913, based on the "1910 model auto" reference). **"Sanctum Talks"** features Nicholas, the ruler of Montenegro, visiting *Life*'s editor. The satire mocks Nicholas's role in the Balkan Wars—he claims credit for defeating Turkey and the European powers who opposed him. The joke is that this small Balkan ruler is bragging about defying major European nations, yet *Life*'s editor treats him as a celebrity (comparing him to American legends like Buffalo Bill). Nicholas's complaint about Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy—wringing their hands over Turkish atrocities without acting—reflects real contemporary debates about Western intervention in the Balkans. **The lower cartoons** are brief satirical sketches: one about college graduates' disillusionment, and another joke equating the risk of a 1910 automobile with gambling—a contemporary reference to early cars' danger and unreliability. The satire targets both Balkan politics and American attitudes toward international affairs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sanctum Talks S this Lire?” “Yes, sir. Your face seems fa- miliar, but I can’t quite place you.” “That is not very strange, since I never haye visited you before. My name is Nicholas.” “Nicholas! You don’t mean of Montenegro?” “The same.” “Put it there, o!d man. Daniel Boone, Buffalo Bill, P. T. Barnum, Jesse James and Robin Hood aren't in it with you. Sit down. What will be your particular poison?” “You forget, my dear Lire, that I have had all of the poison I want, but if you have any Bulgarian butter- milk——” “How did you leave the powers of Europe?” “Oh, sitting around, shaking their fists at me because I defied the whole crew. That is what I came in to see you about, Lire. This is just between you and me, you understand.” “ Perfectly.” “T just want to say that I don't think much of your old Anglo-Saxon tribe.” “What is the matter with them?” “Why, for years and years they have been raising their hands in holy hor- ror over the Turks and afraid to do anything about it. Now, I've got a little place down there, a few miles square, with a few trusty boys back of me, and I made up my mind that the thing had to stop.” “T believe you did start the late un- pleasantness, Nicholas.” “Yes. I brought on the Bulgarian FEELINGS OF A GRADUATE ON FIRST REALIZING SOME OF THE DE- FECTS OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION MARRIAGE THE ONLY KIND OF GAMBLING A MINISTER BELIEVES IN War, and up to the present time I have licked not only Turkey, but those same powers.” “What are you going to do with them now, Nicholas?” “That is what I want to see you about, Lire. You couldn't take care of them over here, could you, if I sent them over? Don't you need a few European powers. just now?” No, Nicholas, not just now What we need are men of cor like yourself. Won't yous! with us?” “No thanks, Lire. I've got to xet back on the job right away. Europe needs me.” “Well, old man. I will say that you have been here. I will give you a little reading notice, inform- ing everybody that the bravest man on the Continent has done me the honor of paying me a visit.” Thanks, old fellow.” “Don’t mention it.” N what grounds did she base her suit for divorce?” “Cruelty. Her hushand forced her to use a 1910 model auto.” comicbooks.com