Life, 1911-04-27 · page 10 of 44
Life — April 27, 1911 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece debates whether unemployment is necessary for civilization. A wealthy millionaire's wife questions her husband about the unemployed, saying "why on earth are you dressing like that? I'm going down to swear off my taxes." The dialogue presents opposing economic views: one character argues the unemployed are "absolutely necessary to civilization," while another counters that if everyone were employed, there would be no unemployment. The exchange satirizes the wealthy's contradictory attitudes—simultaneously dismissing the unemployed as essential to society while resisting tax obligations that might address poverty. The cartoon mocks upper-class hypocrisy: the wife gestures toward social concern while threatening tax evasion, exposing the gap between professed morality and actual financial responsibility during what appears to be a period of labor unrest or economic debate.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wife of Millic GOOD GRACIOUS, JOSEPIL, WHY ON EARTH ARE YoU DRESSING LIKE THAT? “A'M GOING DOWN TO SWEAK OFF MY TANES See the Unemployed "Ss! the Unemployed! “do. What dra crowd they are, to be ‘annot something be done for their relief, O S “ Most assuredly something can be done for their relief, spiritless, sodden-looking 1s you well know, to do the sensible thing would not be desirable.” “I know nothing of the sort. The pet them at work at reasonable wage more desirable than that men who wish to should be allowed to work.” orance. The Unemployed are absolutely necessary to civilization.” “Tam sure you are wrong for once, OS If all men were employed, then there would Le no Unemployed. Am £ right? “Tam. surprised at your “ Let us see. “ Obviously.” “And, if there were no Unemployed, + sirike-breakers when men went out on strik “Tt is.” “And, accordingly, when men struck, the employers would cither have to concede the demands of the workmen or close their plants.” Yes. “And as a small profit is better than no profit at al ployers would not close their plants except as a ver resort,” Surely.” “And so employees would become as arrog ers now and employers would be Do you follow me t would be a terrible state of ployees are now “T think I do wouldn't it?” “Yes, for the employers.” Ellis O comicbooks.com