Life, 1913-05-15 · page 22 of 52
Life — May 15, 1913 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (dated June 1, 1912) presents a satirical story about inequality and social hypocrisy. **The Top Cartoon:** "Equal(?) Opportunity" contrasts two scenarios—one child gazes from a luxurious nursery at an estate ("Heir to a Vast Estate"), while another lies in a sparse, dark room with almost nothing ("Nothing to Call His Own"). The question mark in the title mocks the concept of equal opportunity in America. **The Story:** A Patrolman uses "necromancy" (magic) to force criminals to confess. When a District Attorney announces prize money for stories with "heart interest," even the Patrolman tries to win—though a Politician hearing the tale steals away rather than face scrutiny. The satire targets how authority figures (police, lawyers, politicians) pursue self-interest over justice. **The Bottom Section:** A rebus puzzle and moral about not overextending resources ("When a Goose is willingly laying a Gold Egg a day, don't urge her to strain a point"). The overall message critiques American class disparity and official corruption during the Progressive Era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ia bal oa) Oe ina | EQUAL (?) OPPORTUNITY HEIR TO A VAST ESTATE NOTHING TO CALL HIS OWN bled loudly and a few sewed up their When the Man a Step Higher Up strong Hero in the person of “ Jack i pockets and volubly denounced the heard of this and learned that the Dalton” Whitman. In fact, the story Patrolman for practising his necro- District Attorney was giving such was so good that the Politician, who mancy too blamed often. The sounds valuable prizes for stories with a was listening, was seen to slip off his if of their protests were heard so widely heart interest, he, too, decided to win shoes and stealthily tip-toe out into the ) that the Patrolman became terrified a prize tall timber. and cried out: The story as told by the Superior GREAT MORAL ’ “Save me and I'll tell you a Dandy story about the Man a Step Higher Up.” THE ANSWER TO THIS REGUS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN NEXT WEE Officer was great. It lacked nothing in thrilling adventure, intrigue and low villainy, to which is being supplied a Answer to last week's rebus: “Only the Brave Deserves the Fair” When a Goose is willingly laying a Gold Egg a day, don’t urge her to strain a point and do more. DORN JUNE DL 1992 'S LIFE comicbooks.com