Life — June 2, 1904 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon depicting the opening of a seasonal establishment called "The Frogville Inn." The illustration features various anthropomorphic frogs and other characters engaged in typical inn activities—dining, socializing, and lodging. A sign advertises "Lodgings $5.00 a night and Upwards (mostly upward)," suggesting the inn inflates prices opportunistically during peak season. The parenthetical "(mostly upward)" is the joke—implying that rates only go up, never down. The cartoon satirizes seasonal hospitality businesses and their price-gouging practices. The "Frogville" setting appears whimsical, but the critique targets real commercial exploitation of travelers during busy periods. The illustration's playful tone masks commentary on unfair business practices common in the hospitality industry.