Life — June 18, 1885 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "DOING THE ROUND TRIP" and "AND AWAY WE GO!" This satirical cartoon depicts wealthy tourists on an extravagant around-the-world journey. The upper panel shows well-dressed travelers surrounded by luggage, travel documents, and hotel bills, seated in what appears to be a large vessel or transport. Money coins rain down from above, suggesting excessive spending. The lower panel shows these same tourists in water, apparently struggling or floundering during their voyage. The satire mocks the frivolous spending habits and impracticality of wealthy travelers embarking on elaborate round-the-world trips. The contrast between their confident departure (upper) and their literal immersion in their expenses (lower) suggests the folly of such extravagant tourism—a commentary on wealth, excess, and the consequences of unchecked spending during the Gilded Age or early 20th century.