Life, 1916-11-02 · page 10 of 46
Life — November 2, 1916 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a narrative illustration titled "The Blow" depicting a military scene. A young subaltern (junior officer) delivers unwelcome news to an admiral—likely regarding a naval loss or tactical failure. The admiral's distressed reaction suggests the news concerns a significant wartime setback, possibly a ship or personnel loss. The right column, "A Pantomimic World" by Benjamin De Casseres, appears unrelated to the illustration—it's a philosophical essay about pantomime's potential as artistic medium, discussing how silent gestures could convey political messages or social commentary. The illustration's dramatic staging and the admiral's visible anguish suggest this depicts a real or plausible WWI-era naval incident, though specific context isn't identified.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Blow A YOUNG subaltern rapidly mount. ed the steps of the house occupied hy the admiral. though he walked with military precision and a_ brisk, springy step, his ¢ and manner, as he waited for an answer to his ring, showed that he was laboring under some great emotion. When admitted he went directly to the admiral and stood before him, manifestly ill at case. He wished that some other than he had been chosen to bseak the sad news that he feared to tell to this man who had been a second father to him and whom he loved so well. “Well, Jack, my boy,” said the ad- miral, after waiting patiently a few moments for his protege to speak, “what is it that troubles you?” “Sir,” stammered the young officer, “T have news for you which I fear greatly to tell you. I wish that the unpleasant task might have fallen on shoulders other than mine. You know ” He hesitated. Come, come, lad; I have faced too many sad tidings not to be able to stand some more. Out with it, my hoy, Let's get it over with.” .” stammered Jack, “I have to inform you that Secretary Daniels has resigned.” The admiral half rose from his chair and then, falling back, buried his face in his hands. His big frame shook. The subaltern turned to the window and gazed out across the bay to where, in the gathering dusk, a destroyer was steaming slowly, towing in the sub- marine, A Pantomimic World THE renaissance of pantomime on the stage reminds us how heauti- ful this world would he if everything could be done pantomimically. Wars could be fought out with ges- tures. Presidential messages could he con- veyed to Congress by Delsartean movements. Billy Sunday would become the Pier- rot of Prohibition. We could refuse a “touch” with a leer, a shrug,.a pirouette. We could make love with the eyes instead of with the larynx. And the subway express bell would cease from troubling, and a word- weary humanity be at rest. Benjamin De Cassere.