Life — February 19, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "LIFE" Civil Service Examination This satirical piece, attributed to James R. Wells, mocks the pretensions of civil service bureaucrats. The top section presents an ironic "examination" asking whether an appointed official will regard themselves as a lord of the universe, refuse to answer outsiders' questions, and scorn efficiency—all rhetorical jabs at bureaucratic arrogance and unaccountability. The illustration below depicts a doctor's office scene labeled "Honest," showing a patient complaining of dyspepsia while the doctor offers mutual sympathy rather than a cure. This cartoon satirizes incompetence and deflection—the doctor cannot help but sympathizes with the patient's complaint, mirroring how civil servants might acknowledge problems while doing nothing to solve them. The overall message critiques government inefficiency and self-serving bureaucracy.