Life, 1911-06-22 · page 33 of 44
Life — June 22, 1911 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a French-translated satirical play, "La Comédie de l'Assistance," attacking welfare bureaucracy's callousness and class bias. A starving applicant seeks assistance but is denied—the official demands impossible documentation proving his hunger. He's turned away repeatedly for lacking papers, addresses, and connections. Immediately after, a well-dressed gentleman enters seeking the same assistance. The official greets him warmly, inquires about his family, and cheerfully provides money. The gentleman's only "qualification" is his appearance and gentility. **The satire's point:** Welfare officials prioritize respectability and proper procedure over actual need. The truly desperate poor are blocked by red tape, while the moderately poor—those who "dress well"—receive aid easily. It's a biting critique of how bureaucratic systems enable class discrimination while maintaining the illusion of impartial assistance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
La Comedie de |’Assistance (Translated from the French of Alfred Capus, by N C.)" Tue OrrictaL: What can we do for you? Appiicant (in rags): I want assist- ance I’m dying of hunger Tue Orrician: Possibly your papers? Applicant: What papers? Tue Orriciat: The papers that prove you are hungry. What testimonials have you? Appiicant: None. Tue Orriciat: What! You don’t know a deputy or a Senator? Not even the Mayor of your department? What department do you belong to? Appricant: I don’t know. Tue Orrictat: Where are you domi- ciled? Appiicant: Nowhere. Tue Orrictar: You aren't domiciled anywhere! What are your means of subsistence? Eh! You have no means of subsistence! . Well, my good man, you must apply again Go to the commissioner of police for your district and bring me a legal document, with a sixpenny stamp, to certify that you are dying of hunger. Then, perbaps, we shall be able to do something for you. Aprpiicant: I thought that the Public | Assistance... Tue Orrictaz: The Board of Public Assistance has more interesting troubles to alleviate. [Enter gentleman correctly dressed in a black frock-coat, He sa- Where are Egyptian Cigarette of Quality AROMATIC DELICACY MILDNESS PURITY » At your club or dealer's THE SURBRUG CO. Makers. New York. Rock Island ‘ACATION — anticipation — revelation — gratification — That would be rather a good order in which to have things unfold, wouldn't it? Perhaps we ought to add “multiplication”"—for you would have to go again if ever you had made the splendor of Colorado a vacation dream come true. But first—and this happens to be one of the best parts of the story (it ought to be called a romance)—you would go by the Rock Island. You would board the Rocky MOUNTAIN LIMITED —trom Chicago every day in the year— sed peor ly forget that there was anything but comfort, luxury. beauty, interest, de- Ightlul relaxation—anything but rest—anywhere in the world. Yes, the train also is a dream come true. Everything you have thought of--and then the little surprises. Everything you might have looked for in a superbly appointed modern hotel on wheels, and then unexpected novelties like the world’s “ News Service,” for instance, that add final touches to the enjoyment of perfect travel. ‘The Mountaineer ‘every night) and other fast trains daily from Chicago, St. Louls, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Omah* and Memphis for Colorado, Yellowstone Park and the Pacific Coast. Beautifully (Itustrated books on Colorado, Yellowstone Park and Cal(fornta vill be sent free on request to L. M Allen, Passenger Trafic Manager, 6 La Salle Station, Chicago, Ill, lutes THe Orrictat.] Now here we have Tus Gentieman: A cake for We all adore one of the genuine poor, a splendid fel- low, and so interesting Is all well at home, M Dupont? [He presses his hand.) You have come to draw your assistance money, eh? Is Mme. Dupont well, too? Good, good! What is that you have under your arm? youngsters ! home, too. Tue Orriciat: Well, here is the ticket for drawing your moncy);jM. Dupont. [To the first applicant). Now, mind you take an example from thid splendjd fel- low; have some sort of method ; "dress well; people don’t go in for wearing rags nowadays. When you've economized a little, come back to méy' then you shail draw your regular assistance money, too, [He dismisses them.) —The New Age. Tue Gentleman: It's a bundle of as- paragus I've just bought. We all adore asparagus at home. Tue Orrictac: Ah, there's nothing nicer than fine asparagus. And this little package? ATENT SECURED OR / FEE RETURNED cend sketch for free search of Patent Office Records. Hew to Obtain a Patent and What tolavent with Ilst of Inventions wanted Ata prizes offered for inventions sent Patents advertised free. VICTOR J. EVANS & CO., Washington, D. C. 121 comicbooks.com