Life, 1906-02-01 · page 21 of 48
Life — February 1, 1906 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces attacking wealthy industrialists, particularly John D. Rockefeller. **"H.H.R." (top):** A poem mocking someone (likely Rockefeller, given the initials and context) repeatedly "declining to answer" during what appears to be legislative testimony or investigation. The repeated refusal becomes absurdly theatrical—the figure is "roasted crisp" yet still stonewalling. This satirizes wealthy tycoons evading accountability through legal obstruction. **"A Musical Treat" and "Preferable":** These mock Rockefeller's pledged $1 million music hall. The proposed concert program satirizes his oil wealth with titles like "Babes in Oil Land" and "Petroleum Cadets." The fable contrasts a country mouse rejecting city wealth gained through "high finance" requiring legislative investigation, with the moral that "Ill-gotten Wealth" triumphs when "Common Honesty becomes a fad"—suggesting such wealth is inherently corrupt. The illustration shows children in chairs, likely depicting the music hall's future use for wholesome entertainment, contrasting with the morally compromised source of funds.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
H. H.R. HE, dividends were As throu passed who bore, m anner with this “Decline to answer.” His brow was firm. The eye beneath nced like a falchion from its sheath, s of that tong! ne to answer." “Try not to squirm,” an old man s Dark lowers the tem verhead. y to hide.” ™ Decline to answer.” 0 all roasted crisp he lay, John D. R. began to pray, i] meanwhile, whispered with a “Decline to answer.” A Musical Treat. LEVELAND is to have a new music hall, to cost $1,000,000, and John D. Rockefeller, it is said, has pledged the money. Assuming that AFTER THE WEDDING. the report is true, the following pro- gramme, to be rendered at the hall's ion, is reverently submitted : Herbert Sousa dedi OveRTURE—* Babes in Oil Land” Marcu Petroleum Cadets” (new) Wattz—" Jolly Robbers” .......... Strauss AKtA—Hair Oil Duet from The Rarber of Seville seen ged «Rossini “Ten cent da quarta SoLo FOR Onor—Jewel Song from ** Faust” —Gounod MepLEY OF PorutaRr Soxcs (a) “If Mr. Boston Lawson Had His Way” -Cohan y Never Gives Out” —Rockefeller (c) “Silver Threads Among the Gold” Shaw (@)"l Ama Sunday School Scholar, lar, lar” Anon 4) & My Moni [Norn=It will be observed that the pi a is made up of works by none but STANDARD composers.) Preferable. HE Urban Mouse took the Rustic Mouse down to New York and treated him right, and wound up with getting him into high finance, where he was speedily making more than $100,000 per annum. But pretty soon some fellow hunched the Legislature, and then there had to be more or less investigating done. “If you please,” said the Rustic Mouse, hastily packing his grip with a few things, “I think I will go back.” “To your monotonous old sing-song, eh? ered the Urban Mouse, sar- tically. “Well, somehow, I seem to prefer my sing-song to your Sing-Sing,”” replied the Rustic Mouse, and made off. Morat.: As often as Common Hon- esty becomes a fad, Undeserved Pov- erty has the laugh on Ill-gotten Wealth. To a Correspondent. IFE is grateful to L. & G. for the five dollars toward the Fresh Air Fund, and he would feel doubly grateful if they would allow him to print their letter. It is not only novel and in- teresting but might prove a valuable example. comicbooks.com