Life, 1905-04-13 · page 6 of 22
Life — April 13, 1905 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon mocks wealthy industrialists masquerading as moral educators. The five caricatured figures seated—identified as Mamie Baker Eddy, Johnnie Junior Rockefeller, Russie Sage, and Hetty Green—represent prominent wealthy Americans of the Gilded Age. The satire centers on their hypocrisy: "Life" (personified, teaching) attempts to instruct these men about morality and the Biblical commandment "Thou shalt not covet," while the figures represent exactly the kind of ruthless wealth-accumulation that violates such principles. The joke is that these notorious robber barons and their associates are the last people qualified to learn—or teach—ethical behavior, making the "Sunday-school" framing deeply ironic.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life’s Sunday-School Class. Present: Mamie Baker Eddy, Johnnie Junior Rockefeller, Russie Sage, Hetty Green. L"® =: Now, dear little children, we have gathered together on this beautiful sunny morning to uplift ourselves by inspiring words, and I have taken for our text, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's hou: or his wife, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his." I hope some one among you will be able to furnish us with an illuminating thought on this subject. Now, Mamie Eddy, keep still. Mamie Eppy: I've got a tooth- ache andi almost killing me Jounnt or Rock R: Dear little sister, come here and rest your head on my shoulder. I will make the pain better by prayerful thought. Hetty Green: Oh, come off! No love-thoughts around here. There's nothing in it. Look out for him, Mame, he'll do you. I’ve seen that kid before. Lire: Now, children, don’t quarrel. Has any one thought what the word covet means ? Russte Sace: Never heard of it. Lire: Just think. Here’s a good little boy who has never heard of the word covet. Some day, Russie, when you are old enough to earn an honest living, you may learn. Does any one in the class know ? Mamie Eppy: Is it a claim? Or an error of mortal mind ? Lire: I see that I shall have to tell you, you poor little inno- cent things. Hetty Green: Hold on. I know. It means to give up. When it says, ‘Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house,” it means thou shalt not give up thy neigh- bor's hot:se nor anything that is his. Jounnie JuN1oR ROCKEFELLER: Of course that’s it. Dear little comicbooks.