Life, 1911-07-20 · page 12 of 40
Life — July 20, 1911 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page depicts a social scene where a woman addresses a group of formally-dressed men at what appears to be a high-society gathering. The illustration is titled "MY—MOTHER—TOLD—ME—TO—TAKE—THIS—ONE." The accompanying text reveals the satire: a discussion about acquiring money for patriotic purposes, with references to Morgan, Ryan, and Aldrich—likely wealthy financiers of the era. The conversation mocks how wealthy individuals rationalize financial schemes as "patriotic clubs" for the public good, while actually enriching themselves. The cartoon critiques Gilded Age plutocrats who dressed their self-interested financial maneuvers in patriotic language. The woman's resigned posture suggests she's reluctantly participating in this social theater where money laundering is disguised as civic virtue. The small cartoon below ("CATCH THE POINT?") featuring animals reinforces the satirical message about deception.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* MY-—MoTuY xo to an ordinary bank to get it; now you know that even when you own the yourself can’t ys Ket out of it The has 10 somewhere.” hank you money oney come It has Treasury Exactly. Well, whenever any of the money, all they have to do is into the Treasury with a covered y from > come out of the United I'm fixing it so th. boys want to drop and a couple of expert shovelers.” Aldrich looked at_me “T hope you approve if you did boy, that it co df course, “T realize, my di hardly go through without my ied dryly, “but who's going to he approval,” in You aren't going to fix it so that any one can drop in and * No, certainly not.” he “Only Morgan and me and Tom Ryan and John D. and—." “Then 's a kind of club. “Patriotic club—for the good of the no, replied © one has got to control Who bet- onger nerve country s when they co ter than we Who has a Morgan Who has a mate knowledge of finance than | have? Who is better able to steer the Lark of these ps state through the narrow waters: “What's the 1 asked. for pat er with your rubber “Isn't that p otic purpose: ked 2 No bank, y friendly ness?" 1 well enough “Are ignoring you with us?” my allus Just for the geod of the understand patriot institution whole people.” “Sure, Pin you!” I shouted “Don't we presses? nee fn Don't we new need to raise For a thousand dolla you whole editorial page, I'll put it up to the com in such a will think people that t mon way TOL y— ME TO—TAKE— THI S—oN Newport have, you like story. If the Czar of can wait I your scheme beats the Christian martyrs for self-denial.” In the meantime, I am seriously think- ing of going out to Reno and writing it have been living in best people, as I the rest of the After you with the to read Russia and William y take a run out there. hundred by a butler a couple of 1 delivery. I owe it to a kitchen maid for information beats battles, murders or sudden hs. J. Bounder Ballingford. “CATCH THE POINT?” comicbook eum