Life, 1911-12-28 · page 18 of 41
Life — December 28, 1911 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
## Main Cartoon: "Talks With Great People" This satirizes **Andrew Carnegie**, the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. The cartoon depicts him as still mentally a "district messenger boy" despite his wealth and charitable works. **The satire's point**: Carnegie's unpopularity stems not from his giving, but from his *manner*—he remains an uncouth social climber. The interviewer argues that his moral pronouncements and opinions are worthless because of his common origins. The joke is cruel: no amount of money or good deeds can erase his working-class Scottish manners or give his views social consequence among the elite. ## Side Content: "A Lad's Lament" A poem mocking women's fashion, specifically the "flat-tailed sheep" silhouette (likely the Gibson Girl or similar 1900s style). The lad despairs that modern dress has destroyed feminine beauty. Both pieces reflect *Life* magazine's satirical focus on social pretension, class anxiety, and changing fashion in early 20th-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1176 “EES Talks With Great People HAT is the secret of Carnegie’s unpopularity In spite of the fact that he has given away millions upon millions; that he has been promoting peace—or attempting te promote peace—and that he has been A Lad’s Lament On Seeing Fair Maids Modishly Arrayed H! why do you weep, lad? Why do you mourn? And why do you go about A-looking all forlorn? Andrew “Of course you have!” we replied. “Why not? There is no doubt about your being a canny Scotchman. And there is no doubt about you having no- tions about giving away your moncy so that it will do some good. But, af- Oh! would you not mourn now, Would you not weep, When every pretty maiden Is a flat-tailed sheep? A flat-tailed sheep, With a bucket on her head; The Graces are departed And Beauty she is dead! And here I go a-courting, A miserable feller, The Broomstick for my To marry the Umbrella! bridesmaid, Corydon, AS her gown cut low?” she asked. “Yes, indeed. answered, Low and behold,” he “Don't you think I’m a pretty good sort?” writing books and talking morality at dinners, it is still said that— “Perhaps you can explain it, Mr. Carnegie,” we said as we sat down with him one day in his comfortable den, “Perhaps you can tell us what's the matter with yourself?” “Well, if you really want to know the truth,” said Mr. Carnegie, “it’s simply th I'm still a district messen- ger boy, and I always will be. And you know what the manners of a dis- trict messenger are.” “We know what the manners of a district messenger are—when in addi- tion he’s a Scotchman,” we said feel- ingly. “But can’t you get over it?” “Never! I've tried it, but it’s no use. But really you are too hard on me. Not only do you assume that I am an impossible little Scotch bound- er; but also that I have no redeeming traits. Now, the truth is, I am, in my way, quite a big man. I have courage and extraordinary ability; and I've demonstrated it.” ter all, manners are more important than morals. Nobody cares about what you think ef your own boyhood, or whether people should not smoke or drink in order to make money. body cares about your rules of life when they know what you are.” But why shouldn't they? Don't you think I'm a pretty good sor! Haven't I held my end up and done a lot of good?” . “No.” “T suppose you mean that by mon- keying with the tariff all the money that I made could not be neutralized afterward by my good intentions,” “Well, not exactly that. To be can- did with you, the only thing that we do mean is this: That your opinions are of no consequence.” “But why not?” “Well, w should the opinion of any district messenger boy, even with five million dollars on his back, be of any importance to anybody?” “Hoot, mon! WHY NOT bo IT UP rRowN? comicbooks.com