Life, 1904-05-26 · page 20 of 22
Life — May 26, 1904 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a satirical anecdote about **Russell Sage**, the famously miserly New York financier and railroad magnate. The joke illustrates his reputation for obsessive cost-cutting. The cartoon depicts Sage touring the Missouri Pacific system with President **Jay Gould**. Gould proudly shows Sage a new speed-measuring device (resembling a steam gauge) that tracks train revolutions. When Gould explains the device's purpose, Sage asks the revealing questions: "Does it earn anything?" and "Does it save anything?" Learning it does neither, Sage concludes he wouldn't have it on his car. The satire targets Sage's extreme parsimony—his refusal to invest in anything lacking immediate financial return, even minor improvements. The anecdote portrays him as absurdly penny-pinching, valuing only profit or direct cost savings while dismissing innovation or efficiency for their own sake. This reflects the Gilded Age's public image of railroad barons as ruthless, profit-obsessed industrialists indifferent to anything beyond the bottom line.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE; Tas incident from The Saturday Evening Post illustrates the thrift which has al- ways been present in all transactions made by Russell Sage : A prominent New York financier says that recently, while on a tour of inspection over the Missouri Pacific system, President Gould took | | great pride in pointing out to Russell Sage the late improvements in equipment, and various | new and ingenious devices and attachments. | Among the latter Mr. Gould was especially | pleased to show to Mr. Sage a certain device by which there is registered the speed of a train, The device in question resembled a steam-gauge, and was connected with an axle, so that the pointer registered the number of revolutions every minute, Mr. Sage examined the device with great interest. Then, after a moment's pause, he looked up at Mr. Gould and asked with the | greatest solemnity : “Does it earn anything ?"" 'o, I think not,"’ answered the president | of the system smilingly. “ Does it save anything ?"’ “No, “Then,” concluded Mr. Sage decidedly, “1 TOOTH POWDER would not have it on my car!" NO ACID NO WASTE — NO GRIT NC FPILLING ici aii SUMMER. COMFORT ME ov No Scratched Enamel 66(~OME over to the Flatiron Building and is not possible if you lace tightly. No Tarnished Gold Work I'll blow you off,” said the wind to the A REWARD : i a Fine, strong. hveithy teeth supporters that are incorporate: and gums, and a pure breath into the design of Redfern Corsets are so is the reward of 5czocunt. placed that they hold the garment in is pouial Gil being Gor peamaniek SOs position without the necessity of tight of the Teeth,” Ly U. F. J. Colburn, D.D.8, : lacing. At the same time the graceful, Hatt & Rucxet, New York . well-fitting lines of the corsets make the waist appear smailer than it really is. 5 . This is an exclusive feature of the Red- fe ‘odont Ea ¢ . fern Corsets that cannot be emphasized . too strongly. & FORMS—Liquid, Powder and Paste 4 Styles range in price from $3.00 upwards. The Warner Brothers ara New York, Chicago, | re RTE silk hat, The Security rubber button hose “The Nation's pleasure ground and sanl- ,: = IF YOU ARE GOING WEST David Bennett Hill. THE SS GO SOUTHWEST The... ADIRONDACK “coxrouxo 1! TWERE's oR. FIREFLY AGAIN! THIS IS THE THIRTY-FIFTM TIME I'VE TAKEN HIM MOUNTAINS. vor A comer." viens ‘The lakes and streams in the Adi- Louisiana, Texas, sondack: Mountains are: fall of fj a ) New Mexico, Arizona, the woods are inviting, the air is filled A with health, and the nights are cool at and California and restful. If you visit this region once, you will go there again. An answer to almost any aneeticn 19 AG gard to the Adirondacks will be found in No. 200f the Four-Track Series," . Bs bs colates “The Adirondack Mountains and n onfecti How to Reach Them,” issued by the ons NEW YORK CENTRAL The most delicious product of the A copy will be mailed free on receipt of a two- candy making art. cent starap, by George Hl. Danlela, General Pamenger Sold everywhere goat, Grand Central Station, New York. STEPHEN P. WHITMAX & 50 5 Pew Work City 816 Chestnut 8t., Patla, Pullman Standard ‘and Excursion Sleepers. Free Chair Cars. Day Coaches. See for Yourself the Famous Oil, Rice, Cotton, Sugar, Lumber, Tobacco, Grape, Truck, and Cattle Country of The Creat Southwest Write for illustrated pamphlets to 272 Washington St, Boston 109 South Thin! St, Phila Charles St. Baltimore comicbooks.com