Life, 1891-09-17 · page 13 of 18
Life — September 17, 1891 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satire: **"Never Judge by Appearances"** (left): A comic strip mocking summer visitors. A portly man asks a boy about water depth; the boy replies it's only "up to my neck"—implying the man is unusually tall or the boy is being deliberately misleading. The humor plays on physical contrasts and innocent deception. **"A Terrible Temptation"** (right): Satirizes a bank employee (Morris) who was fired for using confidential depositor information—not for fraud, but to propose marriage to a wealthy client. The joke critiques both his misuse of privileged knowledge and his social climbing through financial information. **The Harrison Family critique** (main text): This is **political satire** attacking President Benjamin Harrison's administration (1889-1893) and his son Russell Harrison. Life sarcastically praises the Harrison family's "high-bred modesty" while actually condemning their shameless use of government power for personal glory and advantage—specifically referencing Treasury Department official Collector Fassett's conduct. The final jab questions whether Russell Harrison should inherit the presidency.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEVER JUOGE BY APPEARANCES. The Summer Boarder: UATTLY Noy, swim, Is THE WATER VERY DEEP? The Boy: AW: ONLY UP TER ME NECK “OEE THUS MAKES ME PEEL YOUNG AGAIN.” “LITTLE BOY, WHY DIDNT YOU TELL. ME vou WERE HUILT LIKE A GIRAPRE A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION. Vorris: VMAVE JUST REEN DISCHARGED RY THE BANK, Miss Mary, FORK MAKING USE OF MY CONFIDENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OUTSIDE OF THE BANK. “How was THAT?” “TL PROPOSED TO A HEAVY DEPOSITOR, AND WAS ACCERTED.” HE thing Lire most admi high-bred modesty. The reti women and children thrust themse! in the Harrison family is its ¢ way in which its men, on the public notice indi- cates an innate refinement and delicacy comparable to nothing but the bashfulness of an experienced book agent. ‘The genial way with which they use government property nce is also a re- cle of the United asury Department slapping the face sight. The spe of Collector Fassett so that a couple of obscure women might be glorified in the eyes of their {cllow-passengers, impresses one foreibly with the dignity of our government under the Harrison régéme. ‘The protoplasmic atom that happens to be the President's son seems to have inherited the family modesty and good taste in their most virulent form and rarely misses a chance to display them. All of which goes to show the advantages of a Republican form of government. Just fancy Russell Harrison possessed of the right of inheritance to the Presidency ! comicbooks.com