Life, 1913-06-19 · page 30 of 52
Life — June 19, 1913 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
## Main Cartoon: "Ballingford Motors with the King and Queen" This satirical piece mocks a fictional American journalist named "J. Bounder Ballingford" who claims credit for international diplomacy. The cartoon depicts him with European royalty (likely King George V and Queen Mary of Britain, based on the caption), shown in exaggerated caricature with top hats. ## The Satire's Point The text parodies American newspaper boosterism and self-importance. Ballingford brags about inciting war with Japan for publication purposes, then personally visits European monarchs (Spain's Alfonso, Russia's Czar) to "cheer them up." His absurd claims—crawling through palace windows, playing croquet with the Czar—mock American journalists' inflated sense of their geopolitical influence. The humor targets: American press sensationalism, the pretension that newspaper coverage shapes international affairs, and the stereotype of enterprising but tactless American reporters. ## Supporting Content Other items address the "Ollie Taylor case" (a news story Georgia was falsely blamed for) and satirize railroads' poor service—typical Life fare critiquing American institutions and media.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIF E* A SUBURBANITE (This is a pun) The Ollie Taylor Case To te Eprtor or Lire: Upon comparing the situation as indicated in the enclosed clipping, with the articles recently appearing in Lire upon the same subject, would not a sense of justice suggest the propricty of some such acknowledgment of the facts such as the New York Evening Post seems to have arrived at? Respectfully, (Signed) Tuomas B. West. Our friend refers to the Ollie Taylor case, now become celebrated through a false report which apparently started in a “yellow” paper. Lire has already published a cor- rection, but is glad now to reiterate that Georgia has been much maligned. We console ourselves with the fact, however, that many respectable Georgia papers were likewise fooled into making misleading reports about Ollie Taylor the basis of unjust criticism against a fine old State. Tue Eprtor, Railroads Wanted ANTED—Railroads. Clean, prompt, well-equipped, comfortable, easy-riding and safe railroads. Rail- roads that will carry goods and passengers with the mini- mum of delay and annoyance and the maximum of polite- ness. Railroads that will look out for the welfare of their employes and pay them sufficient to avoid distressing labor disputes. Must be so efficiently organized and man- aged that rates can be reduced from time to time instead of bothering us all the while for higher rates, Must not overcapitalize. Must always put the welfare of the public above the interest of the stockholders. Respect, honor, fame and wealth are a few of the minor rewards which await the person or persons who will supply this demand. Address Tired, Box 17, this office. Hymen’s Hymn ER name was Mrs. Wilkins-Harding-Grant-McArthur- Stone, For every little husband has a hyphen all his own, Ballingford Delays War His Absence from U. S. Prevents Japan from Acting —George and Mary Cheered up by His Presence: Congratulating Alfonso, and Helping Out the Czar. ONDON, June 17.—(By J. Bounder Ballingford, Lirr’s Special Correspondent.)—I took a hasty run over here the other day, just to cheer up a few Kings I know. Above all things tell Bryan not to bring on a war with Japan until I get back. I’ve done my best for years to make this war, by publishing all the fomenting stuff I could, It would be a pity now to have it come on while I am away, and some one else get the credit for it. I came over by way of Madrid and broke in on Alfonso before breakfast to congratulate him on his recent escape. I had to crawl in through the Palace window to co it, which amused Alfonso greatly. “You American newspaper men are so enterprising,” he said. “ Ballingford motors with the King and Queen.” “We do the best we can,” I replied calmly, “ considering our excess of refinement and manners.” Promising Alfonso to give him a good write-up, I sped north and ran in on the Czar. Nicholas was more than glad to see me, “There are so few people I can trust,” he said, as we indulged in his favorite game of croquet, “that it is always a great pleasure to meet a truly representative American journalist like yourself.”