Life, 1911-02-16 · page 10 of 44
Life — February 16, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon:** The top illustration shows two men on a balcony overlooking a Mediterranean coastal city with cypress trees. One man gazes at the seascape while speaking to another seated figure. The caption reads: "Yes, sir, I paid a pile of money for this view, and if I could buy that ocean the place would be complete." **The Satire:** This is a straightforward joke about wealthy Americans' materialism and acquisitiveness. The humor lies in the absurd notion that even nature's most sublime features—an entire ocean—could be purchased if one had sufficient wealth. It satirizes the nouveau riche mentality of viewing everything as a commodity. **The Articles:** The page also contains two pieces: a biography of anarchist Emma Goldman and an account of a banker's dinner ("A Delightful Affair"). These appear unrelated to the cartoon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“YES, SIR, I PAID A PILE 0’ MONEY FOR THIS VIEW, AND IP I COULD BUY THAT OCEAN THE PLACE WOULD BE COMPLETE.” Emma Goldman MMA GOLDMAN'S book on Anarchism (Mother ' Earth Publishing Company) ought to be read by all so-called respectable women, and adopted as a text-book by women’s clubs throughout the country; not that the members of women’s clubs will be expected to indorse Emma Goldman, or adopt her methods, but merely that the understanding of a book like this will give the average woman another point of view. Whether one shall praise Emma Godman or blame her de- nds entirely upon one’s own ability to think for himself and his heredity and environment, Emma Goldman say: “Ask for work. If they do not give you work ask for bread. If they do not give you work or bread, then take tread.” The last two words are the gist of Emma Goldman's doc- trine. For courage, persistency, self-effacement, self-sacrifice in the pursuit of her object she has hitherto been unsurpassed among the world’s women. Several times in prison, and made to roam the streets at night without a sleeping place; the associate of criminals and the continuous victim of the au- thoritics, she has yet held her way undimmed in search of her ideal. Repudiating as she does practically every tenet of what the modern state holds good, she stands for some of the noblest traits in human nature. A Delightful Affair HE gold room of the Waldorf-Astoria shone resplendently on the occasion of an expensive dinner given last even- ing by the bankers of New York. Among those present were Mr. John Pierpont Morgan and several members of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Co. Promptly at seven-forty-five Mr. Morgan entered the room and three cheers for him were given. These were followed by three cheers for Mr. Morgan's firm and then three for Mr. Morgan's art collection. The menu was selected with special regard for Mr. Mor- gan’s taste and the speakers were cautioned to direct their remarks to Mr. Morgan. Before the diners were scated, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Coupon, of Mr. Morgan’s church, asked Mr. Morgan to bless the as- sembly. As a fitting compliment to Mr. Morgan all the waiters were dressed as bank clerks. The dinner proceeded as planned until the salad course, when Mr. Morgan fell into a sweet sleep. In view of this fact the rest of the dinner was omitted and the lights lowered lest he might be disturbed. At twelve o'clock Mr. Morgan awoke and the diners de- parted after pledging unswerving and undying loyalty to Mr. Morgan. E. 0.1. comicbooks.com