Life, 1901-01-17 · page 8 of 20
Life — January 17, 1901 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page: "Life's Hall of Fame" This page satirizes the pretensions of wealth and social climbing through Russell Sage, a real financier of the Gilded Age. The left column mocks Sage's candidacy for "Life's Hall of Fame" by presenting an absurd interview where he boasts of following "the golden rule of Wall Street" (doing unto others before they do unto you) and admits to charging extra fees—calling it a "bonus." The poem "Wild Flowers" on the right ironically contrasts a girl's natural, wild nature with attempts to civilize and rename her, paralleling how society constrains authentic identity. The illustrations below depict pastoral scenes, likely mocking Sage's pretense to cultured sophistication. The satire targets late-19th-century robber-baron hypocrisy—wealthy men claiming moral virtue while openly admitting to exploitative business practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: S° many applications for Lire's Hall of Fame have been filed, that we must ask the indulgence of those who are compelled to wait. Great care is exercised by the Board of Governors not to allow any unworthy person to enter, as it would be extremely unjust to allow any one to become famous through this agency, when his claims are not entitled to this distinguished consideration. Examinations are conducted with extreme care, and strictly in private. This fact needs to be emphasized, as many candidates are under the impression that they are undergone “Mr. Sage, have you éver done anything you were not ashamed of ?"” “Yes. Lonce got the best of Hetty Green.” “What is your ideal?” “ Spot cash.’” “Enough. Come in, Mr. Sage, out of the wet.” Wild Flowers. cop uer called me wild,” the rosebud cried, “When they 5; Me blooming by the woodland side— They brought me where no silv'ry streams Mingle with my dreams, Where no bird seems ‘To sing its song ; ‘They did me wrong— To tear me from my simple station— As woodland rose ; by cultivation, They called me Maréchal Niel ; For the weal Of Trade, they called me Jacqueminot ; But oh! Despite the names they give me in their art, Tam a rose at heart! * A maiden cried, “ They called me wild— A girl—a child, Until they brought me from my Latin, in public. Lire, on the contrary, would be And gowned me in their silk and satin ; the last person in the world to subject a candidate to any They judged me by my outward grace such humiliation. And face ; Since the last meeting, Mr. Russell Sage has stepped into They called me woman of the world— immortality, and been enrolled upon the list. Mr. Sage’s Unfurled examination was held behind closed doors, and is as Vain compliments about my duty follows: As an American Beauty ; They called me débutante ; Exuipit E. Rvsseut SaGe. Financier. For the want Of better titles, called me belle— signee 4 Ah, well! ‘assoll Sage. Despite the names they give me from the start, “ Occupation?" Tam a girl at heart!” “ T work for a living.”” “But what is the nature of your work?” “I follow the golden rule of Wall Street.” “What is that?”’ “Do others before they do you.’’ “ Are you fond of Nature?” “Oh, yes. It’s so inexpensive.’’ * And of Friendship?” “Oh, no. It’s too costly.”” “Mr, Sage, are you happy?” “Well, not exactly.”” “ What is the cause of your unhappiness?” “TI can look back now and see where I might have saved more.” ** But you have done pretty well.”” “Ah, but many a time I might have gotten a higher rate of interest.” “Isn't there but one rate that the law ‘4 & Froggics: 1sN'T THs AN OUTRAGE? THAT allows, Mr. Sage? ”* . MAN HAS BEEN SITTING RY OUR OPENING ALL ‘ - % DAY, AND THE SKATING OUTSIDE 18 3Ust “That makes no difference. When they onrat. want money from me and I charge more than six per cent., then it’s a bonus.”” “Your name is?’’ comicbooks.com