Life, 1913-04-03 · page 39 of 52
Life — April 3, 1913 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a **satirical short story** ("The Richest Man in the World") alongside period advertisements. The narrative mocks **wealthy industrialists and their moral hypocrisy** during the early 20th century. The story depicts a self-made magnate who has loaned money to a visitor and now claims moral superiority because he extracts 100-300% returns through banking practices. When the visitor donates to charity, the rich man becomes enraged, declaring that **philanthropy is his exclusive privilege**—revealing the satire's point: that wealthy elites viewed charitable giving not as moral duty but as personal power and social control. The unnamed "Richest Man" likely represents **turn-of-the-century American industrialists** (Carnegie, Rockefeller, etc.) who accumulated vast fortunes then selectively dispensed charity to control public perception and influence, rather than genuine altruism. The satire critiques how the wealthy monopolized the moral authority that charity conferred. The ads for raincoats, Kodak cameras, and Hinds Cream are typical period commercial content, unrelated to the story's social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
it isn't an Eastman, It isn't a Kodak, Raincoats of the highest quality for men and women Tailored to Your Order Par better material— better ft—better style and falsh than can be had elsewhere at double our prices. PRICES $14.22 to $30.2 No Deposit—No Advance Payment If tt ts not the very biggest raincoat value you ever saw—or If It is not wholly satistactory— don't pay for It. We deliver them and prepay all charges. Write for our samples, models and simple measure blank without any obligation. ENGLISH RAINCOAT TalLors Co. SUITE3S3 SOOFIFTHAVE. NEW YORK money was depusited by the automo- bile manufacturers in their bank and inside twenty-four hours it was back in my office. When you bought an abandoned factory and arranged for the passing of the deed and for the engagement of the people to run it, they took the money that you gave them, they deposited it in their banks and inside of twenty-four hours that money was back in my office.” “Well, sir, what are you criticising me for? Up to the present time, ac- cording to your own figures, you have not only got back the million dol- lars you loaned me, but every time I make out a check you are getting that, too.” The Richest Man in the World put his hand in a fatherly way upon the shoulder of his visitor. “Ah, my friend,” he said, “that is as it should be—that is the moral law FE ns which I have made. That is the law which states that when I lend money upon the character of other people, I am to gather in one hundred, two hun- dred or possibly three hundred per cent, because T have the extreme gift It’s Springtime. Every field and park to use this moral law as it should be used. But you, si, in contributing the and woodland—every walk and ride, every one thousand dollars to charity, do not realize that you are competing. with joyous outing, invites your KODAK. me. That is the unpardonable sin. You must never do that again. Other- wise I shall have to take away y EASTMAN KODAK CO., character. Will you promise? Catalogue free at your deaters or by mail. RocuesTer, N. Y. The Kodak City. “Certainly, sir. But would you mind telling me just what I have done?” The Richest Man in the World waved his cigar authoritatively in the air, “In your attempt to do good to A toilet cream that is particularly agreeable and refreshing; that keeps the ” “ . skin so pure and so clean that it never looks unwholesome, but always fair, fresh others. Re sald, “by Siving. away and attractive. It is not greasy and c grow hair, money and acquiring the reputation of ‘You should try HINDS Honey ond Almond CREAM—Sold by all a philanthropist. That, sir, never for- dealers, Hinds Cream in bottles 50c, and Hinds Cold Cream in tubes 25c. get, is my exclusive privilege.” Write for Free Samples A. S. HINDS, 53 West St., Portland, Maine C c.T. comicbooks.com