Life, 1912-02-01 · page 9 of 48
Life — February 1, 1912 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical vignettes about economic hardship, likely from the early 20th century based on the style. **Top section ("LIFE" header):** Two contrasting stories about poverty during expensive times. Old Mother Hubbard couldn't afford meat for her dog due to high living costs. Little Bo Peep lost her sheep and found them at the Stock Exchange, "dressed and discreetly-gesticulating wolves"—suggesting financial predators exploiting the poor. **Bottom illustration ("A Love Song"):** A woman sits between two men at what appears to be a dining table, apparently discussing financial matters (papers visible). The caption's title suggests romantic interest, but the scene depicts economic negotiation instead—satirizing how financial desperation corrupts relationships and romance during economically difficult times. The satire critiques inequality and financial exploitation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
peux cdeve oO” Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard - ITTLE Bo Peep, she lost her sheep, To get her poor dog a bone, And she didn’t know where to find them. But when she got there she remembered that, owing to the Happening to stroll down to the Stock Exchange one day high cost of living, she hadn’t had any meat for a she saw them waiting their turn, with a few well- week, dressed and discreetly-gesticulating wolves directly And so her poor dog got a cold storage egg. Behind them. A LOVE SONG