Life — May 21, 1914 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a humorous illustrated feature showing various working scenarios of day laborers—casual workers hired for temporary jobs. The cartoon depicts multiple vignettes of the "handy man," a common figure in early 20th-century American life who would be hired for odd jobs. The sketches show him engaged in different tasks: using tools, working with ladders, raking, sitting idle, and operating equipment. The satire likely pokes fun at the stereotype of the day laborer—his versatility, competence (or lack thereof), work ethic, and the various situations employers would find him in. This reflects contemporary attitudes toward working-class laborers during an era when such casual employment was widespread.