Life — November 21, 1901 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes U.S. Customs enforcement at the border. It depicts a customs official at a weighing scale labeled "U.S. CUSTOM HOUSE," examining what appears to be a returning American citizen carrying meat or provisions from abroad. The caption reads: "A DUTY OF 25¢ ON ALL FLESH GAINED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES BY EVERY RETURNING CITIZEN." The satire targets tariff policy—specifically, the practice of taxing goods (and here, absurdly, the physical weight gained from eating foreign food) that Americans bring back home. It mocks the government's relentless pursuit of revenue through tariffs and customs duties, suggesting the policy has become so excessive it borders on the ridiculous.