Life, 1912-04-04 · page 68 of 80
Life — April 4, 1912 — page 68: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains two distinct pieces of satire: **Top Section - "Supply and Demand in Well Street":** The cartoon critiques Wall Street investors as naive "lambs" being systematically "sheared" (fleeced) by con artists. The text sarcastically compares Wall Street operators to P.T. Barnum, suggesting they use outdated manipulation tactics. The point: despite exposés of fraud schemes, investors remain gullible and willing victims. The "burglar kit" illustration (bottom left) reinforces this—depicting crime/theft as entertainment, mocking how predictable and theatrical the schemes have become. **Social Context:** This reflects early 1900s Progressive Era skepticism of Wall Street, following various financial scandals. References to "Roosevelt or Taft" (presidents) indicate contemporary frustration with inability to stop corruption despite political reform efforts. The page is otherwise dominated by period product advertisements (Dioxogen antiseptic gargle, Stewart speedometer), typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
and mysterious and ingenious sete by which they may think they are gis, to win, and win big. Wall Street, bow ever, doesn't seem equal to bet the e.senrly. Both the old and new Same old tricks which, bave Jog san been exposed, and then blaming Roos. velt or Taft, or any one else be handy, because these ol ‘ Prevents Sore ‘Throat fst tet ypnotie power. Oh fe Street! This will never do. Your des tiny is in the hands of your own opers. . ; tives, If they are not sufficiently OST Sore throats are caused by germs. able and ingenious, you 1 Antiseptic gargles and mouth washes are helpful, but they do not kill the germs. Dioxogen is more than an antiseptic, it is a germicide. Dioxogen kills the disease germs. Germs flourish in the mouth and throat. The least inflammation gives them a foothold where they multiply with marvelous rapidity. Then comes the sore throat—the “ white patches’’—the pain—the fully developed tonsilitis — quinsy or diphtheria. Dioxogen relieves sore throat; used frecly every day as a gargle and mouth wash,— prevents it. It is harmless, even if swallowed. Four Car roe ers Every Five Use the © Reliable Stewart ometer An a lute Necessity on Every Car i FY ‘our car, and i Supply and Demand in Well Deestanrit arene eaten an Street fines. ce They tell you what your car can do on « nice sxe! of country road. It's good to know if your ar Wall Street should not feel downcast 5 over the situation, That will do no good. It behooves Wall Street, rather, to bestir itself and keep on like the good sport it has always been. The supply of lambs is still good; rake rood. ae auite as good as the demand. They are Roath of a mile. growing up all the time and willing to NEW 1912 MODELS Open dial, big Sgures, easily be sheared. But they are a wee bit par- reads magnetic principles re- ticular as to how this operation is to be arkably accurate; sow mov. done, These lambs have certain ideas of art. materials; ball and jewel! bear- P Ings; positive o¢ometer—no Barnum was only half right when he ‘ptings; 100,000-mile season said, “The public likes to be hum- ee ee tae bugged.” It does, but it doesn’t want unbreakable flexible shafts to be humbugged in the same way for- ever. Barnum was an artist. He was too much of an artist to depend forever on a “wild man.” To a “wild man” peedomete acty reason bac ry he added an “clastic-skinned man” and Bfedley undnome canoe tei geese cee then a “living skeleton,” and so on, giv- ing, when all was said and done, a good deal for the money. STEWART, & CLARK, MANUFACTURING 0. The demand of the lambs is for new 1893 Diversey I mesguce her fey . A BURGLAR KIT Roane les comicbooks.com