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Life, 1913-03-06 · page 49 of 72

Life — March 6, 1913 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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Life — March 6, 1913 — page 49: Life, 1913-03-06

What you’re looking at

This Life magazine page (circa 1910s) contains three distinct pieces of satire: **"On Cherubs"** — A light humorous poem by Arthur Guiterman playing with the logical absurdity of cherubs: wingless beings can't sing with lungs, so they "sing by ear"; they can't be spanked because they lack bodies. Pure whimsy. **"Tipping Constitutional"** — Sharp political satire targeting German Emperor William II's newly proposed tax on tips. The article mocks Prussia's financial desperation (needing money for naval expansion) by suggesting the government would tax gratuities. The satire points out the absurd cascade: if the king taxes porters' tips, porters will pass costs to customers, creating an endless chain. It compares America's unregulated tipping culture unfavorably to Germany's "official recognition." The wit: mocking both German bureaucratic overreach and American capitulation to tipping. **"Wedding Silver"** advertisement and **"Greek Wit"** anecdote — These are commercial/cultural content rather than satire, promoting Theodore B. Starr's silver products while offering classical wisdom about kingship and clemency. The page's dominant satire concerns imperial taxation and consumer economics.

📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ow of ed se h- principal Baildiegs, are. Me “LIFE: On Cherubs True Cherubs never run in Debt Because of Clothes and Things, For, like some Chickens I have met, They're built of Heads and Wings. And Scientific Pens and Tongues Have tried to make it clear That Cherubs, since they can't have Lungs, Are forced to Sing by Ear. But none of them, 'tis understood, Will play a Naughty Prank; And this is good, because they would Be Difficult to Spank. Arthur Guiterman. Tipping Constitutional His Imperial Highness, the Em- peror of Germany, has determined to levy a tax on tips. Prussia, of which William is King, needs the money. There is an income tax in Prussia and His Majesty believes the law entitles him to share a little in the gratuities given menials by those they serve. The situation is full of charming possibilities. It is really not an in- novation which astute barbers and bag- gage hustlers should oppose. It is Prussia’s official recognition of a ser- vant’s inalienable right to mace whom he may. Tip taking has become a na- tional industry, a contributary to the imperial exchequer and the project for a greater navy. We in America, who still struggle in the tenacles of the tipping trust, call- ing for its dissolution (ha!), may look to Germany and see what we are com- em ing to and what is coming to us. It is evident that if the King of Prussia takes ten per cent. of a porter’s tips the porter will pass the burden on to [YouCanWeigh You ShouldWeigh You can, I know it, because | have reduced 25,000 women and have built up as many more —scientifically, naturally, with- out drugs, in the privacy of their own rooms; I can build up your vitality—at the same time I strengthen your heart action; can teach you how to breathe, to stand, walk, and relieve such ail liver, ete, One pupil writes: “I weigh 8% pounds tess, tod't have gained wondertaily in strenet®” Another aayat Lat May 1 weighed ca Bee a “Slay 1 Selah ids and chi T tee we rite to-day for my free bookle: SUSANNA, COCROFT, Dept. 56, jchigan Boul., Chicago tes * CREE TacacaaabananaGAnanane Wedding Silver [XN accepta pity the premier wedding gift is unquestionably Flat Table Silver. Its proper attributes are design of permanent charm, workmanship of the highest character, weight that will endure for generations. he illustrations above represent a few of our exclusive patterns of European and American production. Chests of silver a special feature. Prices never higher than prevail elsewhere for equal quality. THEODORE B. STARR. INC. ESTABLISHED 1862 FIFTH AVE. AND 47TH STREET, NEW YORK Greek Wit Cleomenes, when asked what duty of a good king, replied good to your friends, but-harm to your his client—the ultimate consumer. In quite another sense, the Prussian ser- vant will take a tip from the Prussian merchant, who permits his customers to pay his freight bills, rent, lighting and income tax. Perhaps, however, the worst is yet to come. The Italian Gov- ernment may establish another prece- dent by demanding its share of what the beggars of Rome collect. Paul Hanna 489 enemies.” On which the philosopher Aristo observed: “ Would it not be still better to make your enemies friends, and so to do good to them also Philip of Macedon being advised by his friends to banish, one of his slan- derers, replied: “If I do, he will go about and abuse me where there are more to listen to him.” comicbooks.com ,