Life, 1911-07-06 · page 24 of 44
Life — July 6, 1911 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical piece mocking the idea that displaying wealthy millionaires' lifestyles to poor Americans would reduce class conflict and socialism. The text presents fake quotes from real figures—J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, President Taft, and H.C. Frick—endorsing this absurd "parade" concept as a solution to labor unrest and poverty. The cartoon illustration shows a working-class mother cleaning her child, with the caption about going to see the parade so the child won't get the flowers dirty—highlighting the absurdity of poor families' lives versus millionaire excess. The satire's point: Life magazine ridicules the wealthy's delusional belief that merely *showing* their privilege to struggling workers (many unemployed, starving) would resolve genuine economic grievances. The parade features millionaires on Arabian horses and elaborate automobile displays of their homes, servants, and leisure—presented as tone-deaf performance art.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
24 Grand Millionaires’ Parade Great Event Takes Place Under Cloudless Skies —Monster Demonstration HE Grand ranged under th Millionaires’ Parade ar- auspices of Lire Tuesday morning, as It is almost impossible to de- asm with which the pa- s received by the common people The baseball games sched- 1 10 be abandoned. nt district was deserted, all the inhabitants throng- ing up on Fifth avenue in order to cheer their benefactors. “There is no more danger from So cialism,” said Mr. H. C. Frick late last night. “Now that the poor people have scen us all and realize our difficulties we are united to then by renewed ties millionaire in the country will now rest easier. It was a brilliant idea, President Taft when seen, said: “The social unrest through the coun- Owing to the lefactors were took place on scheduled, scribe the enth rade w everywhere. uled for the day During the day the tene! Every try was bec fact that great mi out of jail, that the tariff had not been reduced, and that thousands of worthy people everywhere were out of work, it evident that somethin; to be done. The idea of a millionaires’ parade, in which ming serious, many having the home lives of all millionaires would be shown to the common people—thus us all in bonds of sympathy— Now that the lower classes tthe millionaires have to contend with, there will be no unitin was n inspiration, realize wha trouble.” more Mr. J. P, Morgan refused to talk at length, “T look for prosperity,” he said at last. President Taft, the idea of the parade came as an inspiration, It has long been felt that if our million- be brought into more on people, As stated by aires could only ate touch with the con much would be explained, “TL realize now,” said a retired brick- layer yesterday, who is at the head of a family of twelve and has been out of a job for eight months, “that Mr. Gould and Mr, Ryan and the others are, after only human beings like myself, and it makes me feel entirely different. I no longer feel so bitterly about my starv- ing family as I did, realizing that all millionaires have their own troubles.” It is impossible in this brief space to intin give more than a passing glimpse of the ficient is it to say parade. Si phase in the life of a strug- great that every “you MUST BE WASHED, DEAR, WE'RE GOIN’ TER THE COUNTRY AN’ YoU sicuT cer THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS DIRTY!” Our th Fresh Air 3} wks are hereby extend umber, nillionaire was pictured and re with faithful art, so that all xling produced could see. “Me heart wept within: me,” washer lady with six children to sup- port, “as [ stood on the corner of Fifth d Forty-second street and saw said a avenue what I saw.” J. P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie led the parade, each mounted on an Arabian steed, presented to them by the United Mine Workers. A corps of Pittsburg millionaires, pre- ceded by the 23d Regiment band, came ediately after. Then followed a line of twenty thou- in {to Mr. Bert L 0 hes donated this picture to th sand minor millionaires from all paris of the country. The auto parade was magnificent, over forty thousand limousine bodies being in line. The fi sented ever: were complete and repre- phase in the home life of the millionaire, Among the subjects trcated were: Millionaire and wife in two million home eating breakfast, showing servi of meal and how they enjoy themselves. Expression on faces truc to life A Newport Home. Showing 1 wife and forty servants. Bridge Party of Upper Fifth an and Avenue. comicbooks.com