Life, 1904-07-28 · page 3 of 20
Life — July 28, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a dramatic silhouette illustration titled "Moonlight at Newport" showing figures in conversation beneath trees, accompanied by a theatrical script scene. The sketch depicts an office visit involving a Great Magazine (likely satirizing a prominent publication) and various characters including a clerk, Lady Culpepper (former X.Y.Z. Line president), and references to financial impropriety. The satire concerns a businessman who "bought his road, reorganized it, issued a large amount of stock, dumped it on the public, and dished him in the bargain"—a clear critique of Gilded Age corporate malfeasance and stock manipulation. The scene humorously presents the social awkwardness of wealthy circles confronting financial scandal and fraud, typical of Life's satirical commentary on wealthy Newport society and corrupt business practices of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Copyright. 1908, by Life Pubtiehing Co. Visitors. SS Office of Great Mag- nate. Mahogany furnishings. Solid gold gratings. Ar- my of clerks in distance, Hum of Ex- change near. CuErk (entering): Lady outside to sce you, sir. Great Macnate: Her card? Ah, yes. Mrs. Wilker, widow of my dear old friend. Tell her I'm out. “She knows you are in.” “Tell her I'm busy.” “She insists upon seeing you. She says you have robbed her of all she had."” MOONLIGHT AT NEWPORT. “Um! Ah! In that case, do the usual thing. Tell her to see my at- torney, and if she makes a scene, show her the door.”” “Very good, sir.” (Goes out and comes back in a few moments.) “Man tosee you, sir.”” “Card? Oh, s. Colonel Cul- pepper, former president ofthe X. Y. Z. Line. Tell him I’m out.” “He knows you are in.”* “Tell him I'm busy.”’ “He insists upon seeing you. He says you bought his road, reorganized it, issued a large amount of stock, dumped it on the public, and dished him in the bargain.” “That's no news, Usual thing. Tell him to consult my attorney. Put him out if necessary." “Very good, sir."’ comes back.) “Man to man,” “Card?"” “Here, sir; Rev. Mr. Splicer.” “Ab. My own dear pastor. I cer- tainly haven't robbed him. Show him in. And say." “Yes, si “You see that cabinet drawer— that one to the right ?”" “Yes, sir.” ‘Open it and get my check book. I must let him have some of that money to square myself."” (Goes out and see you, sir, Clergy- comicbooks.com