Life, 1904-08-25 · page 3 of 20
Life — August 25, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical piece titled "A Card" addressing a financial dilemma. The accompanying dark illustration appears to show figures in what seems to be a morality tale about debt and character. The text presents a witty refusal of a loan request. The writer argues that lending money would be harmful to both parties—potentially corrupting the borrower's character through false security and creating an awkward power dynamic. Instead, the writer suggests the friend seek a loan elsewhere, concluding that protecting one's integrity and the friendship matters more than financial help. This satire mocks contemporary attitudes about money, obligation, and morality in personal relationships—suggesting that true friendship sometimes means *refusing* to help financially.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Copyright. 1904. by Life Publishing Co. A Card. O the man who has asked me for a small loan. My Friend: You have asked me for the loan of a certain amount, stating that you need- ed it only for a short time and that you would pay me back by a certain date, In reply to your request, I might state that I happened to be sbort of ready cash just now, and regret ex- ceedingly that I cannot comply with your request. But I shall do none of this. I shall refuse you the money on other grounds —grounds which I shall endeavor to make plain to you. se that the matter may not again come up between In the first place, I would have you A SUGGESTION, know at once that I am no moralist. My refusal is not based upon any ab- surd notion as to the deteriorating effect that a compliance with your re- quest may have upon your character. Whether to let you have the money will do you good, or will you do harm, is no concern of mine. You have ar- rived at your present dilemma through agencies which are entirely personal to you. You may have inherited certain weaknesses which make it impossible for you to turn yourself to a proper account, or circumstances may have really been against you. But whether it is Bad Luck, Fatalism or Folly is entirely outside of my province to de- termine. No, my friend, I am refusing you the loan for other reasons, purely self- ish. The fact is, that I like you. Your faults, so long as they do not obtrude themselves upon me, do not matter. But your virtues have contributed much to my pleasure and satisfaction in the past, and to be candid with you, I am just grasping enough to wish them to continue to do so in the future. The moment that we tamper with money affairs, all will then be ov You may be a scamp or a scalawag. What matters this to me so long as this part of you does not bother me? Or if you are simply unfortunate, the same result follow: And so, my friend, I say to you, if you will, borrow the money of some other. But leave the rest of yourself to me. Tom Masson. comicbooks.com