Life, 1911-02-09 · page 19 of 44
Life — February 9, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1910s *Life* magazine page satirizes restaurant and hotel overcharging in New York City. The main article, "In Behalf of a Struggling Industry," uses mock-serious language to expose how proprietors systematically extract money from patrons through hidden fees and manipulative practices. The satire lists absurd "charges" that should supposedly be added to bills: per-person music fees, napkin rental, payment to headwaiters for basic service, per-oyster costs, even "breathing, per breath." The piece ridicules American diners who won't complain about extortion for fear of appearing poor or stingy ("piker"). The accompanying cartoons—"The Temptation" (a classical nude scene) and "Domesticating the Ark" (aerial delivery of livestock)—appear thematically unrelated, suggesting this was a typical miscellaneous humor page. The satire's core point: restaurants exploit patrons' social anxiety about appearing cheap, making it impossible to protest obvious gouging without losing face.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2 Lf PB In Behalf of a Struggling Industry HAT infant industry in New York called the hotel and restaurant business is con- ducted on a basis entirely too altruistic. The public gets entirely too much for its money. Be- sides that, many patrons are permitted to retain a few dollars which by proper management might be directed into the pockets of the proprietors. For instance, there is the matter of checking hats and coats. As it is, this is all done at one place. The surly and ill-mannered cubs in charge of this department of the graft are usually able to grab the possessions of patrons before they get into the restaurants, but occasionally one manages to get by with his hat or stick in his own possession. This should never be. Besides, the checking is usually conducted in one place. There should be three—one for hat-pins, one for hats, canes and umbrellas, and one for outer apparel. With an energetic assistant bandit in charge of each, this would permit the col- lection of three tips where it is now possible to graft only once. The matter of charges in the restaurant is also sadly mis- managed. Many sources of income are entirely overlooked. These items might very properly be added to the bill of fare oy eae DOMESTICATING THE ARK BRINGING HOME THE COWS AT MILKING TIME. OR WOULD IT BE EASIER TO BRING HOME THE MILK AND LEAVE THE COWS? ©) and no one will object. Every American is afraid to make a protest in public against extortion because he is afraid some one may think him unable to pay, or too stingy, or—worst of all—that instead of being a “ high-roller” he is only a “ piker.”” Music (whether you want it or not) per person............+ $0.50 Napkins, p. p... 7 re Napkins’ (if tucked ‘in collar) p.p Headwaiter, for taking order, p. p. Headwalter, for saying“ Good-day, Oysters, per oyster..s..eseeeeseceee Each question asked of headwaiter..... Use of bill of fare, p. p.....---- Looking in mirrors, per look. Walking on carpet,’ p. p...--- Sassing waiter, per. sas: Kicking to the’ proprietor, per Extra knives, with Gah or pie, Ladies smoking cigarettes, per lady. Waiter, for lifting off covers, per cover: .- Use of waiter’s thumb in soup, p. p... ; Wiping plates with waiter’s soiled napkin, per wipe... Matches, each . oveesee Use of match safe for striking matches, per strike... Incivility of employees 3 Breathing, per breath. sat: Water, unless taken wi 2 ts0 Finger bowls, if used. : Dots With these additions to the bill of fare it is believed that the business can be made to pay and that no patron can escape with a cent in his pocket. No change need be made in the quality of the food. Americans know nothing of good cooking and if you give them noisy service, plenty of gor- geousness and a dinky band playing dinky music they will stand anything in the way of bad treatment, poor food and THE TEMPTATION high charges. Jacques Rencontré de Veau, Greys eG + 05 no charge comicbooks.com