Life, 1912-04-25 · page 20 of 44
Life — April 25, 1912 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes tipping culture and wealthy industrialists' hypocrisy. The main article argues that if society opposes tipping for poor waiters, it should equally oppose the "tips" given to the rich—specifically mentioning **J.P. Morgan** receiving a $5 million governmental advantage during steel trust reorganization, and **John D. Rockefeller** receiving railroad rebates. The satire suggests both are forms of tip-taking, yet only poor service workers face criticism. The accompanying cartoon shows a waiter bowing before a gramophone, captioned "That's an old 1924 disc"—mocking outdated entertainment, likely alluding to how society treats traditional tipping as outmoded. The "News of the Day" section contains absurdist satire: children learning cipher before civics, and doctors needing government approval for operations—commentary on bureaucratic inefficiency and misplaced priorities. The frog cartoon references telephone poles, appearing unrelated to the main content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
868 Tip, and the World Tips With You Wr are inclined to agre waiters who have recently pro- tested against a bill presented to the New York Legislature for the purpose he waiters, in their I, state that if it is with those of stopping defense of this passed and they are no longer permit- cannot make feel that it ted to receive tips. the both ends meet, and they is unjust While we object to any system of tipping, we see no reason why the poor waiters should be singled out as the a universal rule. ipping, as a principle, has thoroughly embedded itself in American life. The idea of the tip is, that when you ask y to do anything for you, who solitary exception t anyboc is already paid for doing it, you either wish to reward him in some way for his services—or you do it under com- pulsion, And matter in’ what stratum of society we may have our no being, this rule holds good Mr. Mor: whea he reorganized the Steel Trust, received a tip from Uncle Sam of about $5,000,000; prac- tically all that Mr. Morgan did was to be on the spot, look pleasant, and help a few people on with their coats. When Mr. on his highly baptismal career he is- hat hy tipping the railroads Rockefeller started out covered slightly got special services, and he did it so essfully that now (to quote Gil- n the shape of rebates— suc Frog: MR. TERRAPIN MUST RE IAV- ING A TELEPHONE INSTALLED! THESE POLES NAVE REEN PUT UP SINCE LAST Tr. “APRIL FOOL, TeDpy ! the also of other hert) he ruler of “Queen's Nave.” is not only but principalities not necessary to mention. No matter how the tip is rendered, whether it is handed over in hard cash in plain sight, or whether it takes the form of a pleasant social function, it is one and the same thing The waiters, therefore, are right in their contention that they should not be singled out. If abolish tips, we should begin with the United States Senate and not with the Waiters’ Union Oh! Oh! If we could but have the Bill Bryan and we are going to Oh! olonel, Oo". line Pankhurst all on one ticket, and me Oh, Oh! the polls open! OHEN (looking over his cards) : I've got four kings—what have you got? Runens (sadly) : Nodding but a mob of Socialists. THAT'S AN OLD 1904 DISC” News of the Day (as it ought to be) RECENT experiment in one of our public schools been watched with great interest by many people. In this school the children have been taught to read cipher before learning civics, botany, trigonometry and lattice work. The originality of the experiment is beyond question, but whether it will be favor write and ed by the people as a whole remains in great douvt The medical agreed to adopt a prices for all ope: to a recent investigation by the Gov ernment, after this no operation can be performed by any doctor unless he has first submitted the mittee appointed by the President, who will pass onthe necessity. It is ex- pected by this means that operations will be reduced about 99 per cent. A national home for doctors who ca not make a living will be provided. profession met and xed schedule of ations. Also, owing se to a com