Life, 1909-09-16 · page 19 of 32
Life — September 16, 1909 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American social hypocrisy through multiple pieces: **"Manners?" (main essay)**: The author argues that the U.S. government should establish a commission to preserve "manners" just as it preserves forests. The satire is biting: he notes that morality is routinely violated by the wealthy and powerful (factory owners bribing legislators, exploiting workers), yet society tolerates this. However, *politeness while committing these crimes* is essential for social stability. The joke exposes how Americans prioritize superficial civility over actual ethical behavior—manners matter more than morality. **"Obliging Cocher"**: A brief anecdote mocking French politeness. A cab driver overcharges a tourist but remains courteous, even helpfully assisting the passenger in finding insulting words in a French-English dictionary to express his anger. It reinforces the theme: politeness persists regardless of actual wrongdoing. **"Wall Street Evolution"** (comic strip): Appears to show the evolution of buildings/structures, likely satirizing capitalist development. All content reinforces Life's critique of societal values prioritizing appearance over substance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“cfADAME, ACCEPT THESE PLOWERS AS Manners ? OULD it be too much of a strain upon our Government resources to appoint a commission for the preser- vation of manners? There has been such a commission or- ganized for the preservation of our for- ests. Forests are undoubtedly natural resources, and ought to be preserved. But so are manners. They constitute one of the most powerful assets of a great people. At present our manners are being ruthlessly cut down and destroyed by EMBLEM OF MY THEY ARE ARTIFICIAL AND WILL LAST FOREVER.” 383 many depredators; and among these are some of our best people. It is a mistake to suppose that the highest morality is necessary for the pres- ervation of a State. What is termed hon- esty is merely a defensive measure used by communities to protect them from cer- tain individuals who either do not rob enough, or if they do rob enough do it in such a candid way that it deserves to be chastised. Every crime known in the calendar is openly practiced by individ- uals, not only in perfect freedom, but under the protection of the State. Mill owners and heads of industries rob the people by bribing legislators to keep up a tariff. They kill the people in their employ by the sweat-shop process, by mine and factory work, or in a thousand other ways. Among f ble women every .orm of the lie is practiced with the utmost skill and abandon. In brief, morality, as such, is openly violated by every one at all times, without the slight- est tremor, and it has not the remotest effect upon what is termed progress. But with manners it is different. To be polite and sympathetic and solicitous when you are robbing your neighbor is a necessity. There are too many in- stances of forgetfulness in this respect Our manners need looking into. And the thing cannot be done too soon. Obliging Cocher LTHOUGH he overcharged me terribly,’’ says the returned trav- driver who took me over aris was most polite.”” “All Frenchmen are,’ we observe. “Yes, but this one got off his box and helped me find the necessary profanity in my ench-English dictionary, so that I might say what I thought of him HE IDEAL WIFE: A bit of chimeri- cal imagery that presides over the other n coffee pot. STREET EVOLUTION comicbooks.com