Life, 1910-11-10 · page 14 of 44
Life — November 10, 1910 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **American tariff policy** through multiple pieces, likely from the early 1900s. **"Customs More Honored in the Breach"** is the main satire—a theatrical parody adapting Scottish tragedy. It mocks customs inspectors who aggressively search tourists' baggage for foreign luxury goods (Paris lingerie, Flemish art, coral jewelry). The inspectors, portrayed as scheming witches from *Macbeth*, impose heavy tariffs on imported items while chanting about "smuggle, smuggle." The satire's point: protectionist tariff policies—meant to protect domestic industries—are absurdly enforced against ordinary travelers, making their lives difficult through strip-searches and inflated duties. The theatrical framework emphasizes the bureaucratic absurdity. The smaller cartoon about Admiral Evans complains that Maine's ports, despite having strict laws producing "quickest and craziest forms of intoxication," remain poorly maintained—political commentary on government inefficiency. A fashion illustration also appears on the page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Lingerie of Paris make— Rumple, crumple, soil and shake, Coat of fur and cloak of lace, Ornaments from every place, Jeweled ring and necklace rare— Pile the rubbish anywhere! Tariff stalwarts shouldn't struggle, Prices twist, nor values juggle. Au Smuggle, smuggte, Toil and struggle! Prices twist and values juggle! Tuixo Inspector. Dress of Paquin, glove of Dent, Flemish art from Bruges and Ghent, Coral chain from Capri’s strand, Diamonds for a dainty hand, Paper cutter from Lucerne, Picture of the bears of Berne, Bangle, dangle, comb, barette, Scarf of silk—Gibraltar jet— Manufactured by a Moor, Make the duties stiff and sure! Add thereto a leathern grip. Tourist now must stand and strip. AL— Smuggle, smuggle, Toil and struggle, Prices twist and valucs juggle! First Insrector— Decorate them with a stamp— Make the mucilage slab and damp. “THERE’S A DIVINITY THAT SHAPES “Customs More Honored ester Lorn as Hecare— our exps."” in the Breach” . 0, mall aene! I commend your A Tabloid Drama And every one shall share i’ the gains. (Freely Adapted from a Scottish And now about the baggage’ sing, Tragedy) Like elves and fairies in a ring, CENE—A “blasted ’’ dock. as- Tariff is our Lord and King! sengers landing from a (Music and song—* High Tariffs and steamer. Custom house officials dis- Low!"") guised as ‘ Macbeth '’ witches. Wircu—Inspectors vanish and ap- First Inspector—Thrice the battered pear at another dock, where an in- trunk is viewed. coming steamer has just arrived. Seconp Inspector—Thrice and once The same scene is re-enacted. (This the tourists whine. drama is capable of unlimited expan- Tuirp Insrector—Locb doth y, Sion and may be continued indefi- “'Tis time, ’tis time!" nitely, or, at least, as long as the pub- First Insrector— lie will tolerate it.) H. T. Craven. Round about the baggage go, . Out the foreign presents throw. Effective Gifts, that under old clothes, ADMIRAL, EVANS said that the i ye ports of Maine were the worst Days and nights have kept repose. ports’ in the world. to ‘avaallor: Precious trinkets—Europe got— ashore “in.” Forthwith | Maine went ' emocratic, with a plank in the plat- Charge we double on the lot Pesnoeraticn, with spice 9/8 Au— Keep the Admiral on the job. His complaint of the Maine ports was a yew ay BOY * it Smuggle, smuggle, ae eet Te elt Pe Herat NOW, MY LOY, WHAT MISCHIEP HAV Toil and struggle! fied out of his experience that the YOU BEEN up To?’’ i i ¥ i Maine laws made for the production pes s “7 EN Prices twist and values juggle! of the quickest and craziest forms of PLEASE, SIR, I AIN’T BEEN UP TO Srconp Insprctor— intoxication that he knew of. NOTHIN’, YET.’? THE FLYING MACHINE OF THE JUNGLE comicbooks.com