Life, 1907-09-05 · page 29 of 36
Life — September 5, 1907 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a serialized story with vintage advertisements. **The Cartoon/Story:** The small illustration labeled "Missionary: SIRE, MY DAUGHTER" and "King of All the Cannibals: PLEASED TO M—EAT YOU" depicts a crude colonial-era joke playing on cannibalism stereotypes. A missionary is offering his daughter to a tribal leader; the "joke" relies on the double meaning of "eat" (literally consuming flesh versus a euphemism for sexual relations). This reflects early 20th-century attitudes stereotyping non-Western peoples as savage and cannibalistic—deeply racist by modern standards. **The Story Excerpt:** The main text appears to be a morality tale about factory reform. A protagonist discovers workers toiling in poor conditions and, against business logic, reduces hours without profit—only to find efficiency and output actually *increase*. The narrative champions worker welfare over pure capitalism, concluding with a romantic proposal where the female character gains managerial authority. **The Advertisements:** Two full-page ads for Steinway pianos and Johann Maria Farina Cologne occupy the right side, using appeals to quality and refinement typical of luxury goods marketing of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
that moment I was thoroughly aroused. I wasted no time in getting into the factory and examining the condition of things. I talked with ¢ men. I visited their wives and children in their homes. Suddenly a w life opened to me. I can’t realize all the shallowness of what had gone before. I went over the books with an accountant. I found that you were right—that the men could not have eight hours without cutting down the profits to a point lower than the prevailing rate of interest. But what of it? I resolved to run the factory at no profit at all, rather than that these people should live in the dreadiul slavery they have been subjected to. And now what is the result? Last night the book- per handed me a report which seems to indicate conclusively that en with the shorter hours of work the efficiency and enthusiasm of the men have so increased that there will be no material lessening’ of the profits for the coming year.” Hallett looked up at her eagerly. “Have you—I see you have—determined to devote yourself to the tives of these people?” he asked. 5" “AVill you let me help you?” “In what capacity? As my manager?” He looked at her eagerly. He drew her hand to him and kissed it softly ‘0, no, dearest,” he said; ‘‘not that—as your husband?” And she smiled back at him. “Perhaps—if you will let me be your manager.” T. LM. Missionary: SIRE, MY DAUGHTER. King of All the Cannibals; PLEASED TO M—EAT YOU. G oal of Perfection Of all musical instruments the piano is the most vital, the most intricately constructed, the most delicately adjusted ; and of all pianos, the Steinway is the highest expression of piano art—so conceded by all judges. No time is too long, no pains too great, no cost too large. no effort too vast to expend in achieving for each individual Steinway the goal of artistic perfection. For a concrete example, we invite you to ex- amine the Steinway Vertegrand; a piano at $500 which more closely approximates the ideal mod- erate-priced piano than any other ever originated. Steinway Pianos can be bought from any authorized Steinway dealer at New York prices, with cost of transportation added, Mutated catalogue and the litle booklet, “The Triumph of the Vertegrand,” sent oa request and mention of th's magazine Steinway & Sons, Steinway Hall 107 & 109 East Fourteenth Street New York SEND FOR OUR FREE BOOK “The Perfume of Rayalty A. dainty litle brochure giving information invaluable to women of refinement who wish the finest of perfume. gives the ory of the invention and manufacture of the origi- nal and only genuine Johann Maria Farina Cologne, also com- plete means for identification and sizes and styles of bottles containing the genuine Johann Maria Farina Cologne ‘The trade the United Si fm red att ils that nam fine. To eft bas Schieffelin & Co., New York Sole Agents for the United States comicbooks.com