Life, 1904-06-23 · page 15 of 20
Life — June 23, 1904 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon (left):** A husband and wife discuss a woman's hat costing twenty-eight dollars. She justifies the expense by citing inflation—prices of necessities have risen. The satire targets both marital dynamics (wives' spending habits) and economic anxiety about rising costs, likely from the early 1900s when this inflation was a genuine concern. **"A Lively Parallel" (right):** This poem compares the historical Caliph Al Raschid's Grand Vizier to contemporary U.S. Secretary of State **George B. Cortelyou** (serving under Theodore Roosevelt). The satire suggests Cortelyou—like the vizier—deserves credit as the quiet, competent administrator behind the famous leader, handling the unglamorous diplomatic work while the Sultan/President receives public praise. The small cartoon at bottom right ("Good for Some Things") is a humorous food advertisement claiming muscle development results.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE ONE WOMAN. Hes Dib YOU EVER HEAR OF A WOMAN WHO DIDN'T TURN "ROUND TO SEE WHAT THE OTHER WOMAN HAD ON? COVES) 1 THINK SO, NER NAME WAS EVE.” gotten a good one for eight or ten.” My stars! Why, there isn’t a hat in ** Now, don’t be absurd."’ Christendom that’s worth twenty-eight “ Well, how much ?"" dollars. You never paid so much ** Just think—only twenty-eight."” before."” “Twenty-eight dollars for a hat! And then the woman will put ber arm 623 around him with a gentle smile as she replies: “But you know, dear, that during the last year the prices of all necessaries have risen, Addison Fox, Jr. A Lively Parallel. AY RASCHID, to tradition dear, Possessed a careful Grand Vizier Who kept his letters neat and nice, Met visitors and gave advice, And otherwise was useful too— Like Secretary Cortelyou. Al Raschid, journeying through the land, Dropped wisdom’s pearls on every hand, Till Islam, with a deep salaam, Cried, ‘* Allah praise the epigram !” But his Vizier just sat and drew His salary —like Cortelyou, When delegates of every sort Came flocking to Al Raschid's court, If there was anything that lacked In smooth diplomacy and tact, “Twas his Vizier who always knew — Like Secretary Cortelyou, A hundred poets sang the praise Of great Al Raschid’s golden days, But few among the si Observed the Man behind the Chair, Who told the Sultan what to do— Like Secretary Cortelyou. But where would be the good Sul-tan Without that quiet, handy man To smooth his road, to ease his pains, To open letters and campaigns ? Til give the Grand Vizier his due— And likewise Mr. Cortelyou. Wallace I) GOOD FOR SOME THINGS. ENCLOSED FIND PHOTO OF MYSELF, SHOWING YOU TNE DEVELOPMENT OF MY MUSCLE AFTER BATING BUT TWO BOXES OF YOUR PREPARED FOOD, comicbooks.com