Life, 1903-04-02 · page 13 of 36
Life — April 2, 1903 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
## Main Cartoon: "American Magnate's Daughter" This satirizes extreme wealth inequality. A wealthy businessman's daughter boasts that their mansion lacks electric lights and conventional luxuries—instead featuring only "sunlight and plain gold streets." The joke mocks the absurd conspicuous consumption of the ultra-rich: they're so wealthy they can afford to reject modern conveniences in favor of literal gold, presenting deprivation as ultimate luxury. The woman's response ("What a come-down!") sarcastically highlights the perversity. ## "A Twentieth Century Document" This is a diary parody mocking streetcar conductors' brutal working conditions and low moral standards. Entries reveal: employees stealing fares, verbal abuse of passengers, management pressure to be aggressive, and such exhaustion that the conductor dreams of work during sleep. The satire critiques both exploitative labor practices and worker misconduct—depicting a degraded profession where abuse flows both directions. ## "Easter Inquiries" A poem playfully chiding a flirtatious woman for "virtue" during Lent, encouraging her to resume flirtation and kissing post-Easter. It's lighthearted social satire on courtship and religious observance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
American Magnate’s Daughter; pox't YOU MAVE ELECTRIC LIGHTS AND ONY: WEAVEN? “No, MY DEAR, ONLY SUNLIGHT AND PLAIN GOLD STREETS.” MY! WHAT A Comp-poWwN 1" A Twentieth Century Docu- ment. Extract from the Diary of a Metropolitan Street Railway Conductor. MoxPAY SianT: A blamed fo01, who wanted me to atop the car, In his excitement rang up twelve fares on me to-day. Weil, I came out even on the run, anyway. Washed my hands this morning for the first time in six months. Queer sensation. Turspay : Had a row with a woman at Twenty- third Street thls morning. She didn’t like it be- cause I called her a ‘slob. Some people don’t know when they are well treated. Said she was going to report me, Wonder If she did. Well, Tl never know, anyway, Wepvespay: I made one whole trip to day without being blockaded once. Such a thing never happened before, and probably never will again. Pripay: | 1 was called into the President's 293 2 office to-day for orders, A spot- ter said I wasn't lively enough, “Remember,” sald the Presi- dent, “that you must not only say ‘Step up in front’ bat make ‘em do It, Push ‘em along your. self, What do we pay you for, anyway?” Weill, he won't have to com- Plain of me again, ATURDAY : I stopped the car today fora woman to geton. It happened in wis way: 1 was ringing up fares, there being « spotter aboard, and touched the wrong cord. The motorman was Wild,and I had to apologize to him later, SUNDAY: Last night I woke up out of a sound sleep and found I had punched the top ctf my bed, and had pusbed ail the furniture in the room out of piace, Dreamed 1 was on duty, Easter Inquiries. TPORTY days of virtue, Sweetheart, you have spent: Come, you little flirt, you, Doesn't Conscience hurt you? Let your heart relent. Here is Easter Sunday : Have you told your sins? Think. ‘To-morrow’s Mon- day, And there's only one day Ere the fun begins. Shall you still continue Flirting as before? Come now, let me win you ! Kissing is a sin you Cannot quite abhor, Love in song or sonnet Is the only bee In your Easter bonnet : Take my word upon it. Does he sing of me? Jour ‘© the filibus- ters of love, “cuanor Pon $5?" comicbooks.com