Life, 1911-12-07 · page 101 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 101: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contrasts generational workplace dynamics with period advertisements. The main article "Better Times for Older Men" argues that older workers (50-70 years old) are regaining employment advantages over youth, particularly as taxi and chauffeur drivers in London and America. The satire suggests youth initially dominated these new automobile jobs due to novelty and adaptability, but older men's discretion, settled habits, and reliability now make them preferable—except in aviation, where youth's recklessness persists. The accompanying advertisements (Crystal Domino Sugar, Old Overholt whiskey) and poetry excerpts appear decorative rather than satirical. A short joke about a suspicious cab fare rounds out the page, playing on contemporary urban taxi culture. The piece reflects early 20th-century labor anxieties about age discrimination and technological disruption—concerns that remain relevant today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Better Times for Older Men Youth for a time had the front scat and the steering wheel in the auto- nobiles. They were a novelty. The older men had not learned them and were y with other employme: The boys swarmed in and captured the job. But now the older men, they say, are getting it away from. them. It has been discovered that discretion, ar settled habits, and ed appeti joy of living, are as useful in a er occupants of places of responsibilit: So we read that “the increasing a of the taxicab drivers is one of the most marked phenomena in the strects of London.” And we hear that here- abouts it is no longer difficult te hire je chauffeur. dentally, a rumor is abroad ths the older men, between fifty and seventy, who still retain the power to work, better regarded in a number of empl ments than they were ten years The truth is that some of the old men are wise. Not all of them stopped le ing at thirty-five, nor stop at twice that age. But youth, as yet, has the driver's in the acroplane. Youth takes It has not much invested, as and risks its It goes to war; it rides in the sky, and is as reckless in the air as it was, just row, on the road. Bvory Drinks of friendships made fast by Old Overholt ye “Same for 100 years Aged in the wood and bot- tledin bond—rich, pure, mellow—a superb whis- key worth asking for— ing upon—if nec- A. Overholt & Co. 2 Prttsbureh, Pa. One of the Reality Protas THE eae SUGAR REFINING CO. Through Paradise once went a troop of straying asses, stopped till Hell they reached, where no cool spring nor hem he who, born with ¢ want prepared for, Perverts his gifts, and wastes his days, dies uncared —Poctry of the Orient, 1063, “ How no erties: So many requests have come to us for patterns of little “Miss Crystal Dom. ino” costume for children’s masquer ades and fancy dress parties that we have had these prepared in five and ten year sizes for those who wish them. Address 117 Wall St, New York City. Very Suspicious about this fare?” di stranger in New York “T hav the cabman clared “Th you you Witey, mine ent overcharged you, sir,” de- a haven J why haven't hat sort of a deep game are r-Journal. to the question, What is sd my enemie Boston Tr comicbooks.com