Life, 1911-02-23 · page 10 of 44
Life — February 23, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"LIFE" masthead illustration**: Shows a woman in dark dress walking beneath a massive tree in an urban setting, surrounded by various people and activity. The title "IF MONEY GREW ON TREES" suggests commentary on economic inequality and wealth distribution. 2. **"Wanted All the Facts"**: A dialogue where a child repeatedly asks "Why?" about God and money, satirizing parental evasion of economic questions. The humor lies in the parent's inability to provide satisfactory answers to uncomfortable truths about wealth and inequality. 3. **"Not Mr. Morgan"**: References a Wall Street explosion in New Jersey (February 1st, date unclear), humorously suggesting J.P. Morgan wasn't involved—a jab at the wealthy banker's prominence and the public's tendency to associate major events with powerful figures. The overall theme critiques wealth disparity and elite financiers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
eS 1F MONEY GREW ON TREES Wanted All the Facts “T_T OW did papa get so much money, mama?” asks the future plutocrat. "God gave it to him, dearie.” “Why did God give it to him, mama?” “ Because—Oh, because God thought he ought to have it.” “And what had the other people done to make God so angry that he took the money away from them, mama?" “Run on to bed, now, dearie. When you grow older you will understand these things.” Alas ! R. PEARY in his final dash to the pole left his white companions behind. As a matter of business he seems to have made a mistake. Now that Peary’s success is doubted there is no one to support Peary’s statements but Peary. The Geographical Society of France has declined to accept him as a thoroughly authenticated pole reacher. Is it, after all, merely a question of veracity between Dr. Cook and Mr. Peary? Not Mr. Morgan ALL STREET was much mystified by the dynamite ex- plosion in New Jersey on February 1st. It was thought at first that Mr. Morgan had lost his temper, and the biggest crowd gathered around his banking house where a window hel fallen in. But Mr. Morgan had gone abroad. “SAY, MA, HAS LITTLE GEORGE WASHINGTON BEEN ALONG HERE AND CHOPPED DOWN THIS TREE? icbooks.com