Life, 1919-10-23 · page 12 of 36
Life — October 23, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features three satirical open letters addressed to public figures: 1. **To Judge E. H. Gary**: Praises him for running his business without "wild asses" (labor unions) interfering, calling his anti-union stance a "remarkable achievement" against "anarchy and bloodshed." 2. **To King Albert of Belgium**: Congratulates him on being a king during uncertain times, noting monarchs face elimination—a dark joke about royal obsolescence. 3. **To Gabriele d'Annunzio**: Sarcastically criticizes the Italian military adventurer for disrupting armies and "discomfiting the Allies," mockingly warning that Fanny will "grab New York" from Hearst. The accompanying illustration shows a man felling a massive oak tree, quoting Henry VI—likely symbolizing destruction of established order. The cartoons employ heavy irony to critique labor suppression, militarism, and political adventurism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Some Open Letters To Judge E. H. Gary. Y DEAR JUDGE GARY: I wonder if you realize what a unique and revolutionary person you are. That any man should attempt to run his business without interference from wild belongs to the past. And that you should have demonstrated that, after all, there is enough public opinion left in the country to sustain you in your extraordinary position, is without doubt a rema achievement. Incidentally, that you should hav been conducting a fight against anarchy and bloodshed and social chaos, to protect the majority of your employces and their permanent interests against these forces, is not without its significance. At least it reveals the interesting fact that Americans are not all dead yet. Hopefully yours, Lire. To King Albert of Belgium. Y DEAR KING: To be a royal personage in these days is not esteemed a privilege by the majority of mankind. 1 $d are both uncertain, the op- portunity for advancement doubtful, and the business may i i any time. Kings neglected their chances good. They did not form themselves San ‘ SS; “ALOYSIUS, BASE DECEIVER! WHAT MEANS YON STRANGE BLOND FEATHER ON THY SLEEVE?” into a union, nor seek by any practical measures to lend the color of outward respectability to their trade. The result is that many of them are sleeping on park benches, and others are wondering on what particular spot on thei cranial structure the historic axe will leave its trade- But to be a King of Belgium is different; it i speak, in a class by itself. Welcome to you! Here's hop- ing that the great shadow of your achievements may never grow less! Fraternally yours, Lire. To Gabriele d’Annunzio. AR GABRIELE: You fill me with grave apprehen- sion. You have disrupted your army and navy and astonished everybody by showing that human beings are human. You have dared and discomfited the Allies. You have out-idealized President Wilson at his own game and put him to shame. You have reinstated Romance and shown that practical courage n rise from the ashes of decadence. Have a heart, Gabriele! Give the poor old League of Nations a chance for its life. Don’t snatch away its bottle like this or open the doors of its incubator to the four winds of heaven. If you keep on, Machiavelli, the guardian spirit of Democracy, will be deposed 1 the diplomatists will be sitting on the corners with tin cups and hand organs. Why, if you get away with Fiume, you'll be coming over here next and grabbing New York right AND MANY STROKES, THOUGH WITH A LITTLE AXE, out of Mr. Hearst’s hands. HEW DOWN AND FELL THE HARDEST-TIMBER’D OAK. Fearfully yours, Henry VI. Lirt comicbooks.com{)