Life, 1908-05-14 · page 5 of 20
Life — May 14, 1908 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon:** The illustration shows anthropomorphic animals (appearing to be a vivisecter with a dog, and other animal figures) around a table, with the caption "The Vivisector: I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK!" **The Article:** "How I Became Successful Working a Deserted Trust" describes acquiring an abandoned trust through a newspaper advertisement, then manipulating it through hiring help, purchasing newspapers, working with legislators, and gradually liquidating assets to turn a profit. **The Satire:** The cartoon likely satirizes financial manipulation and exploitation—the vivisector (suggesting cruel dissection/dismantling) with animals suggests predatory business practices. The article's protagonist exploits an abandoned asset for personal gain, mirroring how the "vivisector" extracts value. Together, they critique ruthless business tactics and financial opportunism, though the specific historical trust referenced remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
How I Became Successful Working an Abandoned Trust OOKING about me early in the spring for a place to spend my vaca- tion, my eye chanced to fall upon an ad- vertisement of an abandoned trust. In a few moments I had the sole sur- viving owner (all the others were in jail) on the telephone and in another hour the transaction was completed and the trust was mine. Tt must be admitted at the start that it was in bad shape. After the purchase was made and I had a chance to look it over more carefully, I cannot say that I had any just cause to be proud of my bar- gain. No dividends had been paid for months—perhaps years. There was noth- ing to show that any of the stock had been watered for as long and, indeed, the The Vivisector: 1 TAKE EVERYTHING Back! whole affair was dilapidated almost be- yond description. However, with the help of a hired man, Iset to work with a will. The first thing I did was to buy up a couple of newspapers to assist me. Through these I secured the services of several United States Sena- tors and having gotten a new issue of bonds well under way, some order began to show out of the chaos. + Of course, the whole thing was over- grown with competition weeds. To crush these, to root them out, was no easy task. But we worked night and day, and by July we had made considerable progress. Then came the work of the State legis- latures. They had to be worked very carefully at first. The same method was used with all. A little cash, then a little more, until we had a firm foothold. I then secured the services of a Wall Street manipulator. I may say right here that I believe the failure of those who have tried to work abandoned trusts in the past has been due to not paying enough attention to this man. I did not hesitate to spend money, but secured the keenest operator I could. The result more than justified the expenditure. After the stock had begun to rise we began declaring dividends. Small at first, they were gradually increased. When the whole thing was at. the highest point I sold out to the public with a handsome profit. I would not like to say how much. Tam now gradually buying up all the abandoned trusts in my neighborhood. There is more in it than many suppose. Cc. T. H. comicbooks.com