Life, 1913-03-20 · page 7 of 44
Life — March 20, 1913 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine's "Fashion Number" contains a poem titled "A Sure Rule" by Carolyn Wells, paired with a satirical illustration about financial speculation. The poem offers investing advice in three stanzas: what you buy will either rise or fall; buying leads to losses; tips from inside sources create temporary gains before inevitable drops. The illustration below shows a crowded stock exchange or trading floor, with "CHILDREN ARE CHEAPER THAN GROWN-UPS" as its caption. The image depicts financial chaos—multiple figures in frantic activity, suggesting frenzy or panic trading. Together, the poem and cartoon satirize stock market speculation and get-rich-quick schemes popular in the era. The caption's dark humor suggests people gamble away fortunes chasing profits. This appears to critique financial recklessness and the illusion of easy wealth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Sure Rule ONE can ever know,— Though you smile when told If a tip you get So the brokers say,— By your staunchest friends From an inside source, How the stocks will go “Tr’s as good as gold! . You are glad, you bet,— From day to day. And big dividends!” You obey, of course. But this rule applies Yet you soon will frown,— Then you find once more, To each and all; | Sorrow fills your cup; That your fun ‘twill stop, What you sell will rise, What you buy goes down, What you sell will soar, What you buy will fall. What you sell goes up. What you buy will drop. Carolyn Wells. CHILDREN ARE CHEAPER THAN GROWN-UPS comicbooks.com