Life — October 19, 1911 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a uniformed police officer or official accepting what appears to be produce (apples or similar fruit) from a street vendor with a child nearby. The title "Bribery" indicates the satire: the cartoon mocks corruption where law enforcement officers accept bribes—in this case, modest goods—from street vendors, likely in exchange for overlooking violations or permit infractions. The humor lies in the mundane nature of the bribe (simple fruit rather than money) and the presence of the child, perhaps suggesting both the casual acceptance of corruption and its normalization even in front of the young. This satirizes petty official corruption common in early-to-mid 20th century urban America, where street vendors frequently negotiated with police through small gifts or favors.