Life, 1906-02-01 · page 19 of 48
Life — February 1, 1906 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces about American business ethics and colonial adventures circa 1896. The main essay "Honesty" references the 1896 election when insurance companies donated Republican funds, claiming patriotic duty against William Jennings Bryan's "free silver" campaign. The author argues that business honesty stems from self-interest rather than morality, and that men regularly cross ethical lines—but generally stay on the "right side" because they remain fundamentally human. "A Modern Version" parodies the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence," replacing pie-baking with stock market manipulation: wheat speculation, financial deals causing suffering ("lambs begin to cry"), and bears/bulls (market speculators) profiting while widows and children suffer unrecorded losses. The "Expert" dialogue mockingly portrays mind-reading as newspaper journalism—suggesting reporters fabricate stories rather than reporting facts. "White Wings in Darkest Africa" likely satirizes colonial missionary or commercial ventures in Africa, though the specific reference remains unclear from this excerpt.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- 145 Honesty. PITE the vogue of Kipling, we do forget. In 1896, nthe great insurance companies were yielding D* up other people's money to help the Republicans save the nation’s honor, there was rife a certain obsession of patriotic ardor, whereby every man who believed in the gold stand- ard thought himself justified in taking any measures to repel the ad and his Vandals. Many emi- nent men said and did things in those days which seem pretty foolish now, and will seem foolisher, if they are not happily forgotten. If the Mc simply went along with the current, that fact should app As for the foun fected, tha ance of Bryz ar, in justice ions of business honesty being seri- is incredibl ously Business honesty is not nn which nothing founded in sentiment, but in selfishness, is more enduring. It is a thin and wavering line which divides the Ims of right and wrong, and men are all the time overstepping it, because they are men and not gods, and no laws which do not make th them stop. But all the while, generally speaking, they are on the right side, and will continue to be, likewise because xods will ever make they are men The things that were done to m have been unfavorably commented on, from time to time. But consider the things that are done to make an Amer! 1 Roman holiday newspaper scoop! IT'S A DANGEROUS SPORT FOR Lawns, Expert. ISS H.: It was simply wonderful what the mind- A Modern Version. reader did. He knew all my thoughts by just looking ops 5 into my face. ING a song of sixpence! Miss He probably read between the lines. A flurry in fall wheat Interests the hungry Up and down the * street.” When the deal is finished The lambs begin to cry, But that is not unusual In modern finance high Y ‘The bears are in their auto cars ny from the scene; The bulls are at their roll tops Planning vengeance k n. Widows and the children Send upa clamor d But they are only All unrecorded here. S41, Litchfield, WOUND in the purse is not mortal, “ DROWN has been supporting an uncle, whom he has never seen, for the last twenty-five years. To-day that the old dufferis dead." killed him 7" doctors call it a stroke of pa- Brown calls it a stroke of good he got wor “WIITE WINGS" IN DARKEST APKICA, comicbooks.com