Life, 1914-02-12 · page 18 of 44
Life — February 12, 1914 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Section - "Valentines of All Nations":** Caricatured cupids representing different countries (France, Germany, England, Scotland, Holland, Ireland, America) satirize national stereotypes and romantic/cultural characteristics of each nation. **"Wonder" Column:** Satirizes wealthy industrialists' sons, specifically referencing Vincent Astor's letter declining socialist Upton Sinclair's invitation. The joke: society assumes millionaires' heirs lack intelligence due to privileged upbringing, so when one writes coherently, people wonder if he actually wrote it himself—suggesting the bar for intellectual competence among the wealthy elite is laughably low. **"Cui Bono?" (Latin: "Who Benefits?"):** Questions the effectiveness of smallpox vaccination after 34 vaccinated sailors at Guantanamo Naval Station contracted the disease. This satirizes either military medical incompetence or broader public skepticism about vaccination efficacy during this era. **"Debutante" Definition:** A brief, cynical joke about wealthy young women's leisure lifestyle.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VALENTINES OF ALL NATIONS Wonder HE other day two gentlemen were discussing the letter which Mr. Vincent Astor wrote to Upton Sinclair, declining that writer’s invitation to enter the ranks of Socialism. One of the gentleman said that Mr. Astor’s letter was so well written that it made him wonder whether Mr. Astor wrote it. His remark expressed the feeling which so many people have with regard to the sons of millionaires. Their educa- tion, their environment and their home life, as a rule, are so much against them, that when they do anything which shows that they have brains, it is always an occasion for wonder, “HER VALENTINE” Cui Bono? ROM a special correspondent of the New York Eve- ning Post we take the following: Washington, January 6.—Thirty-four new cases of smallpox have developed at the Guantanamo Naval Station among sailors exposed on the battleship Ohio during the outbreak on the return from the Medi- terranean. Nine of the cases are virulent. The sta- tion has been quarantined. But we understood that our sailors had been nicely vaccinated. If so, how does it happen that thirty-four vaccinated sailors have been taken with smallpox? It is getting to be generally believed that vaccination doesn’t cure smallpox. Does this bear out the general belief? D#BUTANTE: A girl who sleeps all morning, drinks “CONFOUND You! YoU GOT ME INTO THIS” tea all afternoon, and walks backward all night. comicbooks.com