Life, 1913-05-22 · page 27 of 48
Life — May 22, 1913 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American attitudes toward Europe and wealth during the early 20th century. The top cartoon depicts a devil-like figure (representing Europe or Old World corruption) being dragged through customs by two businessmen, suggesting Europe embodies moral decadence that wealthy Americans pursue. The essay below mocks American tourism and materialism: Europe is portrayed as merely a place to spend money, acquire fashionable clothes, and for married men to escape their wives under the guise of "business trips." The satire targets both American materialism and European pretense. The lower cartoon, "Guardian of the Dividends," shows a wealthy man sheltering a child labeled "Child Labor" beneath his coat—criticizing how industrial capitalists profit from and protect exploitative labor practices. The reference suggests steamship companies profit from transatlantic travel while claiming moral high ground through advertising. The overall critique: American wealth-seekers romanticize Europe while ignoring genuine social problems at home.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AH SYLVIA! COULD WE WITH HIM CONSPIRE TO GRASP THIS SORRY SCHEME OF THINGS ENTIRE, WOULD NOT WE SHATTER IT TO BITS—AND THEN ROMOULD IT NEARER TO OUR HEART'S DESIRE! —IWith Apologies to Omar. Europe EUROPE is a large spot on the map filled with restau- rants, art galleries and armies. It is considered the best place to spend money and be wicked in, and from which to obtain your wife’s clothes. Europe is a place where young girls are sent in order, when they return, to refer to it as a place where they have been. The flora and fauna of Europe are intensely interesting to all visitors. It also has mountains, mineral waters, grapes and open palms. Europe is a place also where tired business men, who need religious seclusion and quiet, go in order to be away from their wives. Not to have been away from your wife on a business trip to Europe is, if you are a married man, to argue yourself unloved. A movement is on foot to bring Europe over to Amer- ica, where it can be on hand permanently for the use of the masses. Those altruists, however, who are responsible for the movement, are afraid that in getting through the Custom House Europe may be clubbed to death. Hence, the steamship companies are advertising as usual. GUARDIAN OF THE DIVIDENDS comicbooks.com