Life, 1903-11-05 · page 23 of 38
Life — November 5, 1903 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mocks wealthy American society and nouveau-riche pretension. The "Babe and Wally" cartoon shows a baby marveling at Earth's softness—likely satirizing the sheltered, frivolous concerns of the rich. The "Society" section parodies absurd wealthy behavior: Mrs. Thearth burns U.S. Steel stock certificates instead of coal to avoid smoke damage to her mansion's gilding; Mrs. Parvenu Plump stirs coffee with a spoon (suggesting affected manners); wealthy families give extravagant debutante balls with gold-filled favors. The "Thanksgiving Poem" offers ironic verses for "all cases"—rich and poor alike—suggesting hollow gratitude across class lines. The tramp joke plays on 1920s financial anxiety: a man became homeless after investing in U.S. Steel, once considered the safest investment. Overall, the page satirizes both nouveau-riche excess and the fragility of wealth, targeting American high society's superficiality and economic precariousness during the prosperous but unstable 1920s era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BABE AND WALLY ¢ WHAT A SOFT PLACE THIS EARTH 1S! MR ase av MRS. BLE AL TRUSTS will give a coming out daughter Pearlie The favors will be ures of solid gold filled monds, dance to th Mrs. Owens Thearth finds coal smoke injures the gilding in her new mansion opposite the Park. stead of coal, she is now burning U.S. Steel certificates — preferred stock, of course, as the common is too heavy for a quick fire. Mrs. Parvenu Plump stirs her coffee with a spoon. of the Boston Innitts. . It was rumored last week that Whartor Kadd was engaged to Miss Sniftie Oldpoint. Our reporter failed to find either of the principals, but on his way back to the office he met Mrs. Endliss Dollas on the Avenue, looking just too sweet for anything. So, in- She was one 439 Mr. and Mrs. Stilor Nuthin are in Europe. They expect to come home on a steamship and will land when they get here. Mrs. Brayzan Pusher was at home last Saturday. She was seen looking out the window on Sunday. Her grandmother wears teeth, Thanksgiving Poem to Suit All Cases. GIVE thanks the troubles of the { POF rich Fell not unto your lot; { benediet {bachelor By Cupid's arrows shot Give thanks you're not a Give thanks the trials known to } Fouth 4 ge Are not in store for you ; Give thanks your life is spent in } Peace strife While you are toiling through. MeLandburgh Wilson, JKIND LADY (rityingty) How ae ; ; long, my good man, have you been a tramp? Trawp: Madam, ever since I bought United States Steel. T° live, the surgeon and the critic must draw blood. [Le 84E: The only thing that worries me about that girl is that she is too good for me. CLEVERTON: Nonsense, old fellow. easily drag her down to your level. You will ARIIGAS SKAMS UAKKAS ATL savin sua aU anh om aL save § avity, | % (2) 4X0 Sa Sv 4 ME WHO LAUGHS LAST LAUGHS BEST. THE THING'S REVERSED. TUE BoanDER's Finst IN THE Good OLD AUTUMN TIME. comicbooks.com