Life, 1913-09-04 · page 14 of 40
Life — September 4, 1913 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top silhouette cartoon titled "That Persistent Annoyer" depicts a man with a curved sword or scimitar confronting a woman. The image likely satirizes unwanted romantic or social pursuit—a common Life magazine theme. The text below includes editorial commentary on a new editor for Harper's Weekly, praising his qualifications and dramatic criticism expertise. A separate section titled "On Being Presented to the Kaiser" appears to be satirical commentary on imperial protocol, referencing the German Kaiser and making humorous observations about facial features and mustaches—likely mocking Germanic formality or a specific public figure's appearance. The bottom illustration captioned "Some Carrot, That!" shows a rabbit, though its satirical meaning remains unclear from visible context.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THAT PERSISTENT ANNOYER without making the waiters laugh, which is going con- siderable, believe me. What? Why, yes—a glass of cau de cologne if you happen to have it. Unofficially I will confide in you that I have the President's permission to eschew grape juice in spite of the general instructions of my distinguished chief, the Secretary of State. On Being Presented to the Kaiser This is a great honor, your Imperial Highness—a very great honor, and one which three years ago, before Teddy put the G. O. P. on the blink, I never expected to have. I have known your Imperial Highness by reputation for some time. We always carry spicy little items about your doings on the front page of our paper at home, and I've seen your picture in the plate matter several times. Your face once seen is never to be forgotten, stamped like an indeli- ble laundry mark on a boiled shirt as it is on our memories. I guess it’s the moustache does it. Most people who wear moustaches nowadays let ’em hang down like a pair of lambrequins on a parlor mantelpiece in the A. T. Stewart period of decorative art. But yours, well, by George, Emperor—and I hope you will excuse me for taking your royal nephew's name in vain—yours stick up in the air like the masts of a Maine lumber schooner in an east wind; as a sort of warning, I suppose, to the world that any man who tries to tread on you will get a splinter in his foot that ninety-seven dentists couldn't pull out in a week. Would you mind if I spoke the rest of the spiel in English? This line of Berlitz I'm giving your Imperial Highness sprains my throat. Our Congratulations The new editor of this paper was for four years a professional dramatic critic, and from the age of twelve a special lover of the drama. Naturally, therefore, an attempt will be made to build ‘up a dramatic depart- ment that shall pick out and emphasize and help along those aspects of the stage in America that are worth attention, whether’ as plays, management, or acting. —Harper's Weekly. 'HE above pithy paragraph is extracted from the modest editorial in which the new editor of Harper's Weekly announces that the “journal of civilization” has secured his services. While congratulating our old and esteemed contemporary on its valuable acquisition, Lire does not abandon its opinion that one of the essential qualifications of a truly great editor is the ability to write lucid English. “ SOME CARROT, THAT!” comicbooks.com