Life — August 23, 1906 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Page Analysis: "Some Virtues of a Departed Money Maker" This page commemorates **Russell Sage**, a wealthy financier who recently died. The top cartoon shows a wealthy man in an automobile passing poor people and animals in a rural setting—satirizing how Sage's presence brought little benefit to struggling communities despite his vast wealth. The article praises Sage's virtue of *minimizing wants* rather than accumulating possessions. It compares him favorably to Thoreau (the philosopher), crediting Sage for self-restraint and lack of ostentation. The satire is subtle: while calling Sage virtuous for not building mansions or displaying wealth, the cartoon ironically shows his indifference to poverty surrounding him. The piece suggests Sage's greatest virtue was simply leaving people alone—a backhanded compliment about his limited positive impact.