Life, 1907-08-22 · page 7 of 24
Life — August 22, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece titled "Not an Exception" critiques wealthy American fathers who buy their children's education rather than provide genuine parenting. The cartoon shows a figure (labeled "A Shepherd Looking for His Flock") juggling multiple photographs—representing his children's accomplishments purchased through money rather than earned through teaching or involvement. The Angel Gabriel questions the father about his parental contribution. The father boasts of placing daughters in "society" through wealth alone, admitting he's spent minimal time with them and taught them nothing. The satire's point: True paternal worth isn't measured by financial provision but by personal guidance and moral education. The "shepherd" has lost his flock—his children lack genuine parental care despite material advantages. This reflects early-20th-century anxieties about wealthy parents outsourcing child-rearing entirely to institutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A SHEPHERD LOOKING FOR HIS FLOCK 227 Not an Exception HE American father was up before the Angel Gabriel. “What have you to say for yourself?” asked that functionary. “Fine!” e inied the American father. “In the past ten years I have made so much money that I have been to place my girls in fairly good society and have them go through finish- ing school. Perhaps they didn’t learn very much, but they made some powerful friends.” “Hum. Could you give a list of the text-books they have studied from the be pe “Certainly not.” “How much time have you spent with them since they were born?” About ten minutes a nd you yourself haven’t taught them anything?” “T should say not. I have made so much money that I could pay others to do it.” The Angel Gabriel blew his silver horn. ‘ake this gentleman,” he said, “to the kindergar- ten department. Put him through the first, second, third and all the other grades up to the last. Give him bad air, poor food, paid sympathy and all the cash he wants.”’ At this point the Amer- ican father interrupted. “Youcan’tdoit,” he said, triumphantly. “You can try and treat me the way I treat- ed my children, but youcan’t keep away sympathy.” “Why not?” “Because all the other men are just like me, and wherever I go there will be others for me to talk things over with.”” 'O MAN is a hero to his wife’s rel- atives. comicbooks.com