Life — June 15, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical illustration from *Life* magazine titled "Great Americans," featuring Mrs. Phelan-Eazie, who is credited with putting "the oyster down Prince Svoroffsky's neck." The cartoon depicts a woman in 1920s attire (beaded dress, long pearl necklace) exiting what appears to be a formal venue or restaurant, surrounded by well-dressed men in suits and hats. The caption's phrasing—"put the oyster down"—suggests a practical joke or humorous incident involving food and a named aristocrat, likely a Russian prince given the Slavic surname. The satire appears to mock both the woman's boldness and the social pretension of high society gatherings. The illustration's style and the reference to "Great Americans" implies the cartoon celebrates this woman's irreverent behavior toward a foreign noble, reflecting post-WWI American attitudes toward European aristocracy.