Life, 1912-03-21 · page 45 of 52
Life — March 21, 1912 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical dialogue mocking wealthy, upper-class women's ignorance of banking procedures and entitlement. The cartoon depicts a fashionable woman (identified as "Mrs. Horace Jamly" from the "Rooftree Apartment, Central Park West") attempting to open a bank account but expecting special treatment. The humor targets her absurd assumptions: she's offended by basic identification requirements, impatient with standard procedures, and crucially, expects to open an account *without depositing money*—confusing banking with retail shopping where she can charge purchases. The satire exposes class privilege: wealthy women of this era often had limited financial literacy and assumed their social status exempted them from ordinary rules. Her demands for pink checkbooks (like her society friend Mrs. Gotrox) further emphasize frivolous materialism over substance. The page also contains period advertisements for Steinway pianos, Allen's Foot-Ease powder, Binner corsets, and Cortez cigars.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
sa xht eth mouth, ia, and not be divest hicago a fo At the Teller’s Window T should like to open an account. Yes, madam; your name, please? Is that necessary? Absolutely necessary, madam, Oh, very well then, Tam Mrs. Hor- ace Jamly, the Rooftree Apartment, Central Park West. Iam at home Thursdays. Yes, madam; your references, please Sir! Your references? You are insulting. I am not looking for a position. I wish to open an ac- count? We must have the names of some persons who know you—in case of—any confusion as to—er—identification. Must it be some one you know? We should prefer it that way—yes Well—really—one knows so many people. I can scarcely know just who you know—or if you know the people I know! It is customary—that’s all. How much do you wish to open the account with? Oh, just a few hundred, say five hun- dred. That will do nicely. Well—why do you stand there whist- ling? I have a cab waiting. Hurry and open the accownt. I have several en- gagements. Just one moment while T get you a hook. > A_QUARTER CENTURY BEFORE THE PUBLIC Over Five Million Free Samples Given Away Each Year. The Constant and Increasing Sales From Samples Proves the Genuine Merit of ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE. Shake Into Your Shoes Allen's Foot~Ease, the antiseptic powder for the feet, Are you a trifle sensitive about the sizeof yourshoes? Many, people wear shoes a size smaller byshakingAllen'sFoot-Ease intothem. Just the thing for aching, hot feet and for Breaking in New Shoes. If you have tired, swollen, tender feet, Allen’s Foot-Ease gives . instant relief. We have over 30,000: “Ina pinch, testimonials, TRY IT TO-DAY. Sold te Atnag everywhere, 25c. Donot accept any sub- Foot-Ease.” stitute. FREE TRIAL PACKAGE sent by mail. Address, ALLEN S. OLMSTED, LE ROY, N. Y. FAMOUS. CORSET The Binner Boneless Corset moulds the form in the most approved fashion of to-day, 18 East 45th Street, New York “MADE AT IKEY WEST International Fame When the rulers, the aristocracy and the great public of all countries drop their national prejudices and all unanimously adopt the STEINWAY Piano as the Standard Piano of the World, it is a final (conclusive) verdict that there is but one perfect piano in existence to-day, and that is the “Steinway.” The name of the Steinway dealer nearest you, together with illus trated literature, will be sent upon request and mention of this magazine. STEINWAY & SONS Steinway Hall 167 and 109 East 14th Street New York And, by the way, get me one of the pink checkbooks, won't you? We have only ordinary checkbooks, madam. Why—my friend, Mrs. Gotrox, has pink checks, that new shade of wis- taria; they are too lovely for anything She uses them for bridge parties. That must be one of her personal be- longings. We provide nothing like that here. How perfectly stupid! That's one of the reasons I wished the account. Cd Will you be good enough to let me have the cash? What cash? The money to open the account. Why, the very idea. Ha—ha—hal If I had any money I wouldn't have to open an account. You can't open a bank account with- out money. I beg your pardon. When I open an account with a shop I can get things charged. That's the way I wish to do here comicbooks.com