Life — January 29, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical content about wealth and social etiquette. The top illustration, captioned "REFINING INFLUENCE OF WEALTH," shows a couple in a small boat—appearing to depict newly wealthy individuals enjoying leisure activities associated with the upper class. Below is a "New Rule" section mocking customs house regulations and proper behavior among the wealthy. It satirizes petty complaints about rudeness from customs officials. The dialogue between Howard and Coward jokes about library etiquette: Howard boasts that every book in his library bears the author's autograph. When asked how he manages this, he reveals he "never borrow[s] any other kind"—meaning he steals signed copies, turning his pretension into a confession of theft. The rightmost cartoon appears to be a separate seasonal joke about New Year's resolutions, though details are unclear in reproduction.