Life — August 21, 1913 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical commentary titled "THE HIGH COST OF LIVING," addressing economic inflation in 1913 America. The cartoon depicts an ice cream vendor serving two young girls, with a prominent sign reading "ICE CREAM CONES 2 for 5¢ EACH." The satire works through contradiction: the sign claims "2 for 5¢" while stating "EACH," suggesting the vendor is obscuring actual pricing—likely that cones now cost 5¢ individually, not two for that price. This reflects real public frustration over rising costs of everyday goods during this inflationary period. The innocent children represent ordinary consumers caught in this pricing deception. The cartoon critiques how merchants used confusing or misleading marketing to disguise price increases from consumers during a time of economic strain.