Life — May 26, 1904 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Plaint of Croesus' Daughter" and "Philosophy" The illustration depicts a classical Greek scene with reclining and seated figures in togas, apparently referencing the wealthy king Croesus from ancient history. The poem "The Plaint of Croesus' Daughter" (by Edward W. Barnard) is a satirical complaint about summer leisure and boredom among the wealthy. It mocks how idle rich people—unable to work or engage meaningfully—simply repeat their weekly routines ("And leave us blue a every Monday"). The speaker wishes to escape her privileged but monotonous existence. Below, the "Philosophy" section sarcastically defines philosophy as "the gentle art of fooling other people" and jokes that philosophers are successful at deceiving themselves. It's social satire mocking both wealth-induced ennui and pretentious intellectual posturing.