Life — September 3, 1903 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Modern Millionaire Bible Class" The main cartoon satirizes wealthy industrialists attending a Bible study. The instructor points to a diagram labeled "The Needle," "The Meat Chopper," and "The Camel"—references to Jesus's teaching that it's easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter heaven (Matthew 19:24). The joke: these millionaires are trying to rationalize their wealth through religion, finding loopholes in scripture. The text sections below discuss society gossip, legal matters regarding President Roosevelt's trust-busting efforts, and journalism education. The satire targets the hypocrisy of wealthy Americans claiming Christian virtue while resisting wealth redistribution and labor protections—core Progressive Era criticisms.