Life, 1909-08-26 · page 19 of 28
Life — August 26, 1909 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces reflecting early 20th-century American concerns: **"Prosperity Is Coming"** mocks optimistic predictions of economic boom by prominent figures (Jimmy Hill, Johnny Gates, and Brother Harriman appear to be contemporary business/political leaders). The satire undercuts their promises—despite real hardships (expensive butter at fifty cents, railway over-bonding, tariff disputes under Aldrich)—by suggesting prosperity will magically "set everything right" without addressing systemic problems. It's cynical commentary on unfounded economic optimism. **"Cleared Up"** is a doctor-patient billing joke: a wealthy woman questions a ten-dollar charge for a dinner visit where the doctor merely socialized. His notebook reveals he billed her for "opinions on digestibility" of foods—satirizing medical professionals padding bills for non-professional services disguised as medical advice. The bottom cartoon about an automobile accident victim with humorous description reflects early-automobile-era novelty and class markers (fur coat, goggles).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“THERE IS A TIDE IN THE APPAIRS OF MEN WHICH, TAKEN AT THE FLOOD, LEADS ON TO FORTUNE,” Prosperity Is Coming ROSPERITY is coming. What does it look like? Once we had a gentle little prosperity all to our- We kept it close for fear that it might get We put it on a trolley and let it run back and forth in the yard for exercise. And when the wolf came up little prosperity barked it aw But that was only one kind There are prosperities and prosperi- ties. Some of them take you unawares, and, before you know it, you are sitting in their lap. being fed ambro a spoon. Other prosperities gradual in their appearance. selves. and be lost. a out of are more They let you know they are coming beforehand, d get you used to the idea. That is the kind that is coming now. Jimmy Hill and Johnny Gates say so, and they know, Brother Harriman backs them up This particular prosperity is going to be large handed and generous, and every- body will get what is coming to ther All the poor will get lucrative jobs Everybody will be making from ten to a hundred dollars a day and living on the faz of the land. Common laborers will get tired counting money It's a great thought. In spite of Aldrich and the tariff, in spite of the financial system (which nobody under- stands), in spite of butter at fifty cents 275 a pound and eggs at fifty cents a dozen. in spite of the Third Avenue Railroad being bonded for nearly two millions a mile, in spite of everything, prosperity will soon be along and set everything right. Cleared Up EWILDERMENT was written in the face of the richly gowned lady tha hurried into. the elderly private office “Doctor Swallow,’* she, morning I received your bill for ten dol- lars, and I can't understand it. Some time ago I settled our account and have had no occasion to consult you profes- sionally since! "" “ Did I not call at your house one day since that?" “Only as my guest at dinner, doctor! physician's said “ this That was four weeks ago.” An apprehensive shade overspr: dignified physician's countenance, quickly he withdrew his notebook from his pocket and rapidly fingered over the leaves. “Here it is," said he, stopping at a page. “‘ Dinner at Mrs, Penel- Uneventful. Eked out the hour hostess my opinions on the digestibility of mustard pickles, scalloped oysters and plum cake,’ and,’’ added the physician, “without thinking I annexed the amount of the bill which ceived. Madame, it should twenty-five you re- have been Police Sergeant: cax you Give ME A DESCRIPTION OF THE WHO. RAN OVER you? “Ol CAN THAT. ME HAD ON A FUR COAT AN” AN AUTYMOBILE PERSON CAP AN’ GoccLes.” comicbooks.com