Life, 1909-05-06 · page 15 of 48
Life — May 6, 1909 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This dialogue satirizes the contradictions of early 20th-century American streetcar (traction) systems. A visitor from Mars exposes the logical absurdity: transit companies claim to serve "the people's interest" while actually prioritizing their own profits, resulting in poor service and discomfort for passengers. The satire works by having an "Upright Citizen" defend this circular reasoning—that officials needn't provide good service because it's not *their* financial interest to do so, yet they operate "in the public interest." The Man from Mars's naive questions reveal the hypocrisy: if service conflicts with company profits, the public loses. The secondary comic exchange about hobbies is unrelated wordplay on infidelity as a distraction from work stress. This reflects real Progressive Era criticism of utility monopolies and corruption in municipal transit systems.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Traction “(] HAVE great difficulty in understand- ing your traction system,” said the Man from Mars. “Tt is a little complex to bother you the mo: Upright Citizen. “Well, for instance, in whose interest is it conducted?" “In the interest of the people, of answered the Upright Citi- What seems replied the course,” zen “Then why are the people not treated with greater courtesy and supplied with more comforts?" “ Because it is not to the interest of hose who conduct it to do so."’ But, I thought you said it was con- ducted in the interest of the people? "” “In a way it is. That is to say, the people, in their own interest, entrust the traction business to selected mem- hers of the community, to whose interest it is to conduct it in the interest of the people. Understand?" “Perhaps Tam a numskull,”” vouch- safed the Man from Mars, “but I do not understand yet. Now to whose in- terest is it to have good service?”* “To the interest of the people, of course, but then you could not expect the traction officials to give good serv- ROYAL SPORT ITS PAINS AND PERILS ice when $ not to their interest, could you? “T do not expect anything,” ¢x- plained the Man from Mars. “I m trying to understand it. As near as I can determine there are two conflicting interests, Now, in such a conflict, which gives way?" The people, of course. You could not expect individuals to give service which was not to their in- terest. Have you ever studied the question of vested rights?” “No; but I suppose vested rights are those which authorize the few to make the many uncomfortable? '’ “You talk like a dangerous man," rejoined the Upright Citizen. Ellis O. Jones. OCTOR: You must have a hobby—something to take your mind off business. Bacster: But I've tried photog- raphy, keeping hens, a microscope, pistol shooting, amateur carpenter- ing, burnt leather, motoring, book buying, stamp collecting and bal- looning. Doctor: Not absorbing enough, sir. Try running off with some other man’s wife. “say! TO SEE ANYBODY PLACE NIGHTS.”” 1T MAKES MY HANGING WIFE NEI ARO! comicbooks.com