Life, 1903-07-09 · page 5 of 20
Life — July 9, 1903 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a fictional "Model Village" proposed by George Vanderbilt with absurdly restrictive rules. The top cartoons show Uncle Hiram experiencing Fourth of July disasters—apparently the village bans fireworks and celebrations entirely. The accompanying text lists humorous mock regulations: no newspapers, millionaires need licenses, children can play only certain hours, sermons limited to 90 seconds, doctors must write prescriptions in English, and automobiles are banned as dangerous. The "Tao!" cartoon shows personified envelopes (representing mail/communication) tied together—likely mocking the village's communication restrictions. The satire targets wealthy industrialists' paternalistic control over workers' towns, suggesting Vanderbilt's actual model communities imposed excessive rules limiting residents' freedoms and pleasures. Tom Mason is credited as author.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHY UNCLE stss! Rules for a Model Village. IRGE VANDERBILT is erect- iny another model village. It is to be as nearly perfect as possible, and conduce to the sum total of human happiness. In order that this end may be carried out, we suggest the following : RULES AND REGULATIONS. No newspapers are to be read in this license, All million: and their total number will be limited to five Chi morning until night, and no chiid will be es must take outa ren will be allowed to play from *LIPE* LOOK BACK WITH PLEASURE ON permitted to attend school under the age of ten No sermons over one and one-half minutes in length All delegates, friends, or m be prohibited 1 All Christia give absent tre: trespas; by gamblers, walking photographer bers of the W.C. T. U. will congressmen, Scientists are requested to ment. Doctors will be required to write their prescriptions in sh, and not to charge over one dollar a visit. If they are caught ing or operating within the village limits they will be punished to the full extent of the law. All books under one cluded from the librar vaceina fold will be HIS FOURTH, ou—! No village band ! No calls will have to be returned. If you want to call, call. If you don’t, don't Street cars will be rau by men trained in the use of the English language, and who are ordinarily courteous. No musical comedies will be allowed. Every automobilist who comes within gun- shot of the village will be in danger of his life. Alltaxes for improvements and not for politicians. Tom Masson. comicbooks.com