Life, 1913-07-31 · page 15 of 36
Life — July 31, 1913 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical content: **"Restaurants"** section mocks the economics of dining out, claiming restaurants deliberately remove nutritional value from food while charging exorbitant prices for minimal portions, hat-checking fees, and tips. The cartoon by Mark Findersoye (left) depicts a tall, thin man—likely representing the struggling diner—contrasted with an ornate restaurant structure towering above him, visually illustrating how restaurants exploit patrons. **"Patriotic"** section critiques Ambassador Page's acceptance of the London post while maintaining his salary. Life argues this patriotic self-sacrifice by wealthy business leaders should inspire others to support government work rather than contribute to political campaigns—a pointed commentary on how the wealthy use patriotism selectively. **"The Singer"** is a sentimental poem by Charlotte Becker about finding solace in music despite hardship. The illustration captioned "She's a Flirt!" (bottom right) appears unrelated—showing a woman encountering a sea serpent—likely a humorous vignette about a woman's fearless reaction to danger.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*-LIFE- 191 Restaurants RESTAURANT is a place where you pay four dollars for fifteen cents’ worth of food, accompanied by about two dollars’ worth of light labor, light china and . light music, which you have heard before. After leaving your hat with a Wall Street Syndicate, you pay all the way from ten cents to a quarter for the privilege of getting it back and wearing it once more. The difference between a man and woman indeed to-day is quite simple. A woman pays fifty dollars all at once for her hat, while a man pays five dollars for his and fifty-five more in tip installments for storage at restaurants while he is vainly trying to obtain enough nourishment to sustain life between times. The object of all restaurants is to furnish you with everything you want except nourishment. This is carefully extracted from all food before it reaches you. Every restaurant nowadays has attached to it a home- less hotel and a drugless drugstore, also a newspaper stand where you can buy a paper for not over twice what you can get it for across the street, and a box ffice dispensary where you can get theatre tickets for almo:1 any night you don't want them at the same rates. Every restaurant also has a wine cellar which is filled with native cobwebs, European labels and California grape juice. Patriotic F it is true, as the newspapers have reported, that Am- bassador Page is receiving the same salary that he did before he accepted the London post, his pay being extended to him from patriotic motives, why is it not an excellent —Mark Findersoye- example? Isn't it much better for our business 1 to help out the government in this patriotic. manner, by enabling the best men to accept official positions abroad, SEEING NEW YORK than it is to contribute money to campaigns? The Singer SHELTER me behind my song From grief and care and pain, That all unlovely things may throng Across my way in vain. Gay tunes I sing for those who weep, Sad tunes for passers gay; And ever on the road I keep Or rough or smooth the way. What matter if no hearth be laid To warm my weary feet— And if there wait no wistful maid To give me welcome sweet? Since ne'er so lonely are the hours, Nor paths so steep and long, But what I find through sun or showers A shelter in my song. Charlotte Becker. “sue’s A FLIRT!” comicbooks.com