Life, 1907-12-12 · page 9 of 20
Life — December 12, 1907 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts two hunters in a field with a dog, titled "It's All in the Point of View: A Successful Day (for the Birds)." This appears to be visual irony—the hunters consider their outing successful, but from the birds' perspective (those they're hunting), it's a disaster. The text below presents a political dialogue between "the Man from Mars" and "the Politician" discussing government borrowing, bonds, and banking practices. The Man from Mars questions the logic of the system: the government borrows money, issues bonds, and banks profit through interest charges. The Politician defends the practice, while the Martian visitor finds it baffling—highlighting how absurd or circular the financial system appears to an outsider's perspective.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
people in general, and that we will bravely hold our own in spite of the conspiracy against us of a foolish public. How does that sound?” “Splendid, my boy. It couldn’t be bet ter if you were a man. Keep it up, if it interests you.” But the next afternoon when Arthur came in from his play it was quite evi- dent that all was over. “Papa,” he said, “‘haven’t you some- thing new I can play with?” “Why, where’s your Trust Company ?” “It’s been absorbed by the Clearing House, and the directors are each of them running for some high office.” Arthur looked at his father meaningly. “T knew, papa,” he said, “when you bought the old thing for me that it was only wound up to go a certain length of time, anyway.” IT'S ALL IN THE POINT OF VIEW A SUCCFSSFUL DAY (FOR THE BIRDS) The Country's Credit “RATOW let me sce if I understand you,” said the Man from Mars. “First, the Government borrows mon and issues bonds on which it pays interest.” “Yes; that is correct,” replied the Politician. “And then the bankers who own these bonds use them as a basis for currency which they lend and for which they get more interest,” ccntined the Man from Mars. “Yes; that’s it exactly.” “And then the people who have this currency put it back into the banks, so that the bankers can lend it out again and get more interest.” “Now you've got it exclaimed the Politician, nthusiastically “Yes, but what I don’t understand,” said the Man from Mars, ‘‘is why the Government doesn’t issue this money direct and cut out two or three of those interest charges.” “Oh, that wouldn’t be safe,” said the Politician. “It might impair the credit of the country.” E185 O. Jones. Jealous A LARGE proportion of the clergy are displeased with President Roose- velt for putting the pious motto off the gold coins. It is their chance to curb a rival preacher. When did two of a trade ever agree? I IS the mental image of failure that makes us fail. comicbooks.com