Life, 1905-08-17 · page 17 of 26
Life — August 17, 1905 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes two distinct issues: **Top cartoon**: A baseball game between "System boys" and "Theologs" (religious figures), with umpire Jacob Riis. The satire mocks theological disputes interrupting practical business—the game itself is secondary to the quarreling. **Main article: "Impertinent Taxpayers"**: Attacks wealthy automobile enthusiasts (led by young Vanderbilt) who use public roads while dismissing farmers' protests. The satire's point: wealthy automobilists claim rights to roads funded by ordinary taxpayers' taxes, yet show contempt for those taxpayers' concerns. **"Their Use" dialogue**: Cynically suggests jails exist only for poor people who "get caught and haven't money enough to stay out"—implying wealthy people escape consequences through money. **Overall**: Early 1900s critique of class privilege and the arrogance of wealthy elites who exploit public infrastructure while dismissing working-class objections as "impertinent."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ii il Wht WRU tended strictly to 1 the r there was a procession for the umpire (Jacob Riis) had to call him down. quiet In the seventh inning the score w: but the Theologs got to quarreling among themselves, whercas the System boys kept sult that usi even, home plate in the cighth, and rd the honors. Inthe ninth the air em. Time, 3 hours, 4o min nsford and Potter, R Score, 8o to 10 in favor of Sy: Receipts | Divided between the Baptist Mission Fund and the Equitable policy-holders Impertinent Taxpayers. Tre farmers of Nassau County, Long Island, are be- ind times. se of their ed against the nderbilt and his merry men. ocking sbscure farmers, who have never | They public h © actually prot ays by young V the business of a few had their umns, should be permitted to {will of the Automobile Club hat a simple matter of 1 ames in the society col erfere for a moment ¥ of America is ri Of course, the sof the county—with one ex- ception to the protest It is high time these farmers should learn that ordinary citizens who pay the taxes of a community have no rights that a genuine automobilist respects Their Use. are jails only for people who get caught ?”" “Dear me, no! They are only for those people who get caught and who haven't money enough to stay out.” comicbooks.com .