Life, 1911-09-07 · page 7 of 44
Life — September 7, 1911 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **pretentious hypocrisy** through two pieces: **"On Humbugs"** (left): A prose essay distinguishing types of humbugs—from the self-deceived person who genuinely believes in their own superiority, to the calculated charlatan who knows he's fraudulent. The text notes that "humbugerry" is a "lawful profession" and observes that even clergy and politicians qualify as humbugs, suggesting widespread social dishonesty. **"Revised (With Apologies)"** (right): A cartoon showing what appears to be a **wealthy fashionable man** at a tailor shop, obsessing over trivial details of dress (Prince Albert coats, squeaky shoes). The satire mocks upper-class vanity and materialism—the irony being that despite elaborate grooming, such people remain fundamentally hollow or fraudulent. Together, the pieces critique American social pretension and the gap between appearance and reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
On Humbugs HIS would undoubtedly be one of the largest numbers of Lire. ever issued if wealth of material were considered. It has remained for us only to be judiciously discriminating. Humbugs may be divided into various classes. Of these the sincere humbug is by no means the least. It is one-half the battle to believe in one's self, This the sin- cere humbug does, Not only does he believe’ in himscli, but he experiences a continued and progressive feeling of satisfaction at the good he is doing in the world When at times ke feels that he is misunderstood—that his work, instead of being estimated at its real value, s unjustly criticised— he accepts bis yoke with martyr. resignation. The other extreme is the humbug who knows that he is a humbug, and glories in it. To him humbuggery is a lawful profession; his motto is “The fcols are not all dead yet,” and every victim that he adds to his list only confirms his opinion of his own superiority. But between these two ex- tremes lie every variety of hum- bug. The only class who are exempt are the children, for it takes experience to become a humbug and one has to grow to it. In dedicating this number of Lire to the humbug, there- fore, we are as broad in our scope as human nature is. No occupation is exempt. Except, of course, clergymen ang politicians. No ene would think of referring to these two classes as humbugs. Pests! ANDALL: What do you have to contend with when down at your country place? Rocers: Mosquitoes, potato-bugs, the neighbor's chick- ens and our friends. A HINT to young grafters—If you must steal, steal from the public. The public can—and will—stand it. Revised (With apologies) H, love, couid you and I with Him conspire Te grasp this sorry scheme of Trusts entire, Would we not shatter them to bits, and then Remould them nearer to the heart's desire? Customer: “7's LIKE DIS, MISTAI. WHEN AIt FYASSES DE COLLECTION PLATE IN CH'CH AH WEARS A PRINCE ALBERT COAT AN’ A FULL DRESS VEST, AN AIL WANTS A PAIR OB SQUEAKY SHOES To GO WiF EM.” comicbooks.com