Life, 1914-03-19 · page 7 of 44
Life — March 19, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes wealthy philanthropy through the character "Phyllis," depicted in the poem by Corinne Rockwell Swain. The satire is biting: Phyllis performs charity work while maintaining her privileged lifestyle—she observes Lent, donates to orphans, and limits smoking to three cigarettes daily, all while riding in a luxury limousine. The accompanying illustration titled "The Arrogance of Wealth" reinforces this message, showing an elegant motorcar and well-dressed figures on a street. The satire criticizes how the wealthy use modest charitable gestures and religious observance as cover for their fundamental self-interest and class superiority. Their "renunciation" is performative rather than genuine sacrifice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
——— eee ase ae CHASTENED mood fair Phyllis shows, ) For in her limousine bouquet The violet supplants the rose; Her evening gown, of saintly grey, Is slightly less décolletée, And modifies, to some extent, The flash of hose discreetly gay— Fair Phyllis is cbserving Lent! 2 a ae Re ee LIFE Renunciation For charity sweet Phyllis sews, And churchward oft she wends her way, Though now and then, of course, she goes To ‘thé dansant or cabaret: And though at bridge she’s known to play, Her gains are to the orphan sent; She smokes no more than thrice a day— Dear Phyllis is observing Lent! Corinne Rockwell Swain Hi Ui THE ARROGANCE OF WEALTH