Life, 1913-08-14 · page 12 of 40
Life — August 14, 1913 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon depicts two people sitting on a log in a forest, engaged in conversation. The title "Trouble in the Air" suggests social tension or conflict. Below, the article "The Difference" critiques Senator Fall's position on "dollar diplomacy." The text argues that while America previously sent diplomatic representatives abroad to conduct foreign business, now merchants themselves are being sent instead—a shift toward direct commercial intervention. The author satirizes this as abandoning traditional diplomacy for naked commercial interest, claiming it's riskier than protecting commerce through formal channels. The second article lists European tourist attractions, appearing unrelated to the main satire. The overall page satirizes American foreign policy's shift toward prioritizing business interests over diplomatic protocol.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TROUBLE IN THE AIR The Difference When our merchants send out their representatives, their business men, to reside in South America, Central America, Japan, China, or anywhere else, they go there with the understanding that “dollar diplomacy ” is a thing of the past and that “grape juice” diplomacy has taken its place. What the difference may be, I can not say; I do not know.—Senator Fall, of New Mexico, in a recent speech. c is easy to understand Senator Fall's confusion. It is partly due to faulty nomenclature. Under “dollar” diplomacy we were, of course, quite frankly after the other fellows’ dollars. It might seem that instead of dollars we are now after grape juice, but, of course, that is absurd. The only change is that those who go to these foreign countries now go more at their own risk than ever before, instead of at the risk of those who remain behind and buy armaments to protect them in their commercial adventures. Individually we are as greedy as ever, but collectively we have decided to ‘stay home and mind our own business. That's where the grape juice comes in. Grape juice would probably not receive the vote as the national beverage, but it is certainly a safe drink for one who wants to mind his own business, E. 0. J. Reminiscences of a “Personally Conducted” European Tourist ‘DINBURGH: The Bosphorus, Oxford, the Alhambra, Shakespeare’s home, the “ Winged Victory,” Little Trianon, London: Leaning Tower, the “ Night Watch,” Abbots- ford, Arc de Triomphe, La Scala Opera, Napoleon's tomb. Paris; The Quirinal, the “ Sistine Madonna,” the Bridge of Sighs, Unter der Linden, the Acropolis, Burns’ cottage. Berlin: Houses of Parliament, the Vatican, the Dore Gallery, the Pyramids, Covent Garden, the Venus of Milo, Beyreuth: The Beethoven Museum, “ Punch,” Gilbert and Sullivan Operas, Edam cheese, the Doge's Palace, Oscar Wilde's grave. Rome: The Sphynx, the fjords, the Charing Cross, the Blue Grotto, Samovars. Naples: Hagenbach’s animal park, the Royal Academy, Fontainebleau, the tulip gardens, Mount Etna, the Matter- horn, Brussels: Eidelweiss, Notre Dame, St. Angelo Castle, the Louvre, Cosima Wagner, Melrose Abbey. Harvey Peake. Pinakothek, comicbooks.com