Life, 1902-05-01 · page 9 of 22
Life — May 1, 1902 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Life" Magazine Page 371 The top cartoon satirizes railroad corruption and corporate malfeasance. A grotesque fat figure labeled "New York Central Rail Road" sits atop a "Death Trap Tunnel," flanked by smaller figures representing "The Electrician" and "Rail Road Commission"—suggesting these entities profit from or enable dangerous conditions. The caption promises to show stockholders "just what ought to be done about the safety of railroads as applied to New York," implying public ignorance of railroad industry practices. Below, "As to Automobilists" mocks proposed municipal bond requirements for motorists—a thousand dollars plus additional fees per mile. The text sarcastically suggests this regulation, ostensibly for "public safety," actually amounts to extortion disguised as consumer protection. This reflects early 1900s skepticism toward both automobiles and government regulation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE OUR_DEATH TRAp THE REGULAR PERFORMANCE, “ NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE LITTLE PIGURES WILL GIVE YOU A DISINTERESTED OPINION OF THE TUNNEL, AND TELL YOu JUST WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF RAILROADS AX APPLIED TO NEW YORK." As to Automobilists. (THE municipal ordi- nance that constrains automobilists in New York to have their initials, writ large, on the rear of their machines was wisely devised and gives satisfaction. Public safety might be further promoted by re- quiring each automobilist to file a bond with the City Chamberlain for a thousand dollars, and an additional thousand for each mile in excess of twelve that his machine can go; the bonds being security for payment of judgments in damage suits resulting from accidents. None but persons of assured and registered solvency ought to be allowed on the streets with fast automobiles, HERE'S no sentiment in business, but there’s business in sentiment. A Moving Tale. N vain the May wind wanders in And softly whispers me, When sultry summer days are done, Of nights in Arcady. But what great miracle shall my Arcadia restore? The place that knew Calphurnia Will know her nevermore. NATURE abhors a society leader. For months a Damoclean sword Hung trembling o'er us all ; We shut our eyes, and laughed and sung, But knew that it would fall "Twas on the year’s unhappy seroll Immutably decreed, That she must go—Calphumia! And now she’s gone, indeed. She lives? Ah! Yes, she lives, but where? Not where our hearts are still ; But in pa’s new “colonial” At East Westmorelandville. A suburb—near, and yet so far !— Whence—0, the eruel fate! — For him that's faring ci The last train leaves at 8 ! Edvrard W. Barnett, “WELL, WELL, KNOCKED OUT BY A TOOTH: acne, rut”? “ TOOTHACHE, NOTHING. MY HORNS acuE.” comicbooks.com