Life, 1907-02-28 · page 7 of 28
Life — February 28, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page presents a cartoon showing well-dressed figures at a "Bargain" counter, with dialogue about "your bargain counter" and "looking for my wife." Below, the text catalogs various political and social critiques attributed to different ideological groups. Each group—from Optimists and Free-Traders to Socialists, Reformers, and Anarchists—blames society's problems on different causes: tariffs, greed, lack of innovation, militarism, monopolies, taxation, and so forth. The satire suggests that every political faction has its own diagnosis for society's ills, making the collective complaints seem both universal and somewhat absurd. The cartoon's bargain-counter setting appears to reinforce themes of commercialism and social disorder. The page mocks the proliferation of competing ideological explanations for contemporary problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“VM LOOKING FoR sty were.” “WELL, SIR, TAKE YOUR PICK." What Is Wrong with the World? “AJOTHING,” says the Optimist. “Graft,” writes the Muck-Raker. “Booze,” declares the ‘Temperance Reformer. “Trades-unionism,” asserts ges, long hours and the oppression of the working- Awe aes man,” announces the Walking Delegate. “Skepticism and irreligion,” pleads the Clergy. “Dogma and unreasoned belief,” retorts the Freethinker. “Silks and the pursuit of money,” complains the Apostle of the Simple /a\ (B) LAIR “Tariffs,” protests the Free-Trader. “Discontent and the love of innovation,” suggests the Con- servative. “Indifference to reform,” rejoins the Radical. “Militarism,” avers the Peace-Advocate. “The growth of collectivism,” claims the Individualist. “Private ownership and the competitive system,” insists the Socialist. “Selfishness and human depravity,” affirms the Moralist. “Monopoly,” shouts the Trust-Smasher. “Landlordism and taxation of industry,” asseverates the Single-Taxer. 5 “Everything is wrong,” whines the Pessimist, and the An- archist shrieks “Amen!” Wilham Restelle. comicbooks.com