Life — September 3, 1908 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page contains two distinct satirical cartoons from Life magazine: **Top cartoon:** Shows wealthy individuals on horseback encountering poorer people on foot. The dialogue expresses resentment about wealth inequality—one character complains that some folks have "so much and the rest of us so little," and references someone being "merciful to man as beast" by letting people ride on trolleys. **Bottom cartoon:** Depicts cherubs/babies carrying barrels labeled "SEP," "TEM," and "BER" (September, September, September), captioned "SHE IS COMING BACK TO US." This appears to reference the seasonal return of autumn/fall, personified as female. Both cartoons use humor to comment on social and economic disparities, and the cyclical nature of seasons or social conditions, typical of Life's satirical approach to American society.