Life, 1913-08-14 · page 14 of 40
Life — August 14, 1913 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes wealthy Americans' complaints about income tax burden. The illustration shows an airplane (representing the tax burden) hovering over a pastoral landscape while figures flee in panic below. The accompanying text presents a dialogue mocking the rich. Characters like "Hon. Income Collector" and references to "Jake Schiff & Co" discuss whether wealthy people should pay higher taxes. The satire argues that the rich falsely claim poverty to avoid taxation while maintaining luxurious lifestyles ("walking in sackcloth and ashes"). The letter from "Hashimura Togo" (likely a satirical persona) further mocks the wealthy by requesting loans and claiming financial hardship despite high income—highlighting the hypocrisy of the rich avoiding tax responsibility.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE ROC lawyer 75,000$ fee for to prove that Jake Schiff & Co are bankrupt or expect to be.” “Something should be did in this country to make great fortunes more smaller,” decrop Cousin Nogi with Up Sinclair expression. “Income Tax are doing it,” I peruse with eyewink, American salute. “If you will go around with Hon. Income Collector and hold his valise you will observe how scarce a house on Fifth Ave are able to pay its board. Many Socialistical talkers say so that rich folks is proud & upstartish. But you never hear great richness boasting of diamonds no more, because Hon. Income Tax might be there with dictograft. Fashionable 4oos is now walking in sackcloth and ashcans. Even Senator Clark are sawing some Michael Angelo off from the front of his house for fear it might enrage U. S. Treasurer Mc Adieu by its expensive appearance.” “How will Hon. Govt obtain cash money for expenses if rich is all too poor to pay it?” Nogi ollicute. “There are always some smart way of taking it away from the poor,” I say for answer, “Are it not shocky outrage that great wealths should say untruth for avoid tax?” require Nogi with yellow blush. “Yes is!” This from me. “Yet lying are nice finan- cial art which loses souls and saves money. Hon. Dio- genes, man who invented Truth, were so poor he must walk around in a barrel and nothing else. When Income Taxer arrive to-him he say, ‘ Marathon hoi polloi,’ which are Greece for, ‘You are invited to search for it.” “Why should richness pay more tax as poorness?” Nogi ask with Henry Geo eyebrows. “Because it are proper for good-luck folks to help misfortunate persons,” I report for grandeurs. “If you was rich would you tell deceptive lies about your wealth when collection come around?” Nogi ask it. “Never should I! Nobility make my chest round.” My cousin Nogi look slyly for few moment like snakes scratching their backs. Of finally, standing on alternate toes, he say bashly, “Togo, since you are now in high job of pay, kindly to please loaned me on quarter (1%4$) until future.” “So sorry no can do!” I holla, defly hiding s$ bill to other pocket. “To tell you honest true I am bursted to financial zero.” Hoping you are the same, Yours truly, Hasuimura Toco. (Per Wallace Irwin.) comicbooks.com