Life, 1910-03-17 · page 11 of 36
Life — March 17, 1910 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical piece mocking the New York Stock Exchange and its members. The commandments parody the Biblical Ten Commandments, suggesting that stock brokers operate by their own corrupt moral code rather than actual ethics. The top illustration shows a woman (likely Lady Liberty or Justice) blown backward by wind—suggesting the Exchange's instability. The bottom cartoon depicts two wealthy men at a table with alcohol and money, with text implying casual fraud: one claims insurance covered his losses before being "killed." The satire's point: Stock Exchange members prioritize profit, commissions, and self-interest over honesty, fair dealing, and genuine principles. They "worship" the Exchange itself rather than maintaining ethical standards. This reflects Progressive-era criticism of Wall Street corruption and speculation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: “IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT——” HOW THE ACQUAINTANCE BEGAN ee eliS et “DID YEZ KNOW THOT CASEY TUK OUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS LOIFE INSURANCE ONLY THE DA-AY BEFORE ME WUZ KILT? "* “swure! CASEY WUZ ALWA-AYS LUCKY.’” 471 The Ten Commandments of the New York Stock Exchange 7 HOU shalt do no business with any other Exchange but me. B Ab II. Thou shalt bow down and | i) worship the New York Stock Ex- ts change, its officers, its commit- — tees, its rules, its commissions and everything that is Its, for I am a jealous Stock Exchange and visit the sins of my members against me upon them and their clerks, and their customers even unto the third and fourth generation thereof. III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Stock Exchange in vain, but shalt always speak of it as a high-principled body and made up of perfectly honest gentlemen. IV. Six days shalt thou labor and do all those that thou canst do, but the seventh day thou shalt put on thy silk hat and go to church. V. Honour thy fatherly and motherly older members of the Stock Exchange and wax fat on the two-dollar commissions they may give thee. VI. Thou shalt not kill business by telling the truth about the interest charged your customers. VII. Thou shalt not commit adulteration, nor deal in watered stocks except those listed on the Exchange. VIII. Thou shalt not steal-from other members of the Exchange. IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness un- less a customer is suing some member of the Exchange. X. Thou shalt not covet another member's house, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor his other stocks. Outside of the Exchange go as far as thou likest. J.S.M. comicbooks.com