Life, 1923-05-24 · page 21 of 42
Life — May 24, 1923 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch features King George V and Queen Mary discussing a diplomatic dilemma. Queen Mary hopes to exclude **George Harvey** (U.S. diplomat and publisher) from an upcoming court dinner, finding him an insufferable snob. However, King George explains Harvey's presence is diplomatically essential to Anglo-American relations—a cornerstone of British foreign policy. The satire mocks the tension between authentic hospitality and diplomatic necessity: the royals must endure an objectionable guest for political reasons. Harvey's reputation as an arrogant, reactionary aristocrat makes him socially intolerable yet politically indispensable. The page's secondary jokes target women's fashion extravagance, the Lucy Stone League (women's suffrage activists), and President Harding's celebrity. The humor depends on readers recognizing Harvey's actual notoriety in 1920s Anglo-American relations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Delicate Situation CHARACTERS His Majest) <ing George Her Majesty. Queen Mary CENE: A private room in Buckingham Palace. Time: An afternoon in May. Queen Mary More sugar, George? Kine Georce No thank you, Mary. Do you know, dear, that’s the third time you've asked me that question within th» last three minutes? Queen Mary Is it, George, dear? Kine Georce Mary, tell me: have you something on your mind? Queen Mary Well—er—that is— Kine Georce Now, dear, no evasions. Tell me exactly what it is. Queen Mary Well, George, I was just wondering. (After a pause.) George dear, just how important are A‘nglo- American relations ? Kinc Gerorce My dear Mary, amicable relations with America are the very cornerstone of our present foreign policy. Queen Mary Oh, George, isn’t that just too tiresome for words! Kine GErorce My dear, you mystify me. “What's your name, my little man?” “I don’t know for certain, sir. My mother belongs to the Lucy Stone League.” Mr. Wye: T don’t know where women acquired their extravagance in dress—Eve wasn’t like that, you know. Mrs. Wye: Of course not—there was only one man in the world and she had him. Queen Mary Well, there’s to be a dinner on Thursday week—just an intimate little affair of about two hundred—and I was wondering if—er—if—we—er— Kine Georce Out with it, Mary dear—if we could—what ? Queen Mary If we could leave out George Harvey without of- fending America. Kine Gerorce Good Heavens! You can’t mean it. Queen Mary But I do—he’s the most difficult guest we've ever had over here. Kine Gerorce Difficult? How so? Queen Mary He’s such an aristocrat and such a reactionary! Our simple Court ways are much too informal for him. And so I thought that perhaps— Kine Georce Alas, my dear, I fear it’s impossible; it’s absolutely necessary to include him among your guests. Queen Mary Very well, dear, just as you say. Kine Georce T am sorry but I shall be in Scotland on that da laying a foundation stone or something. (Curtain) Percy Waxman, Suspended Judgment Hussanp: Did you have a busy time at the sewing circle? Wire: We did until the woman arrived that we were talking about! Many a small boy, since learning that President . Harding shook hands with Babe Ruth the other day, is more determined than ever to become President. comicbooks.com