Life, 1914-07-30 · page 29 of 40
Life — July 30, 1914 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon is a personified dialogue between two five-dollar gold coins. One coin, having traveled to Europe in 1893 and 1907, explains that American currency circulates abroad because "the people abroad invited me over"—a satirical critique of American foreign expenditure and interventionism. The coin claims foreigners request American money and involvement, but this is clearly ironic: the piece suggests Americans are being manipulated into funding European affairs under the pretense of being "invited." The broader page critiques excessive American military/diplomatic spending by satirizing the notion that other nations eagerly solicit U.S. financial support. The humor relies on readers understanding early-20th-century debates about American isolationism versus foreign engagement and costly overseas commitments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Who Knows? 'WO five-dollar gold pieces sat si- lently on the edges of two piles of similar pieces, separated by a narrow margin. Finally one spoke: “I'm off to Europe to-morrow.” “So?” said the second five-dollar gold piece. “That must be interesting. I came near being selected also, I judge, but the teller put me over here for home use. Have you ever been to Europe before?” “Yes. I was over there in 1893 and again in 1907.” “Who pays your expenses while you are abroad?” “The people of the United States.” “Indeed. Do they send you over of their own accord?” The first five-dollar gold piece shook his head. He was a polished citizen of the world. He had been in Paris, London and Berlin, He had acquired experience. e ‘ , “ “Not exactly,” he replied. “The COME/ON IN, MISTER.) “THE! WATERS /YINE. people abroad invited me over. They From One Who Knows R. CHARLES MAYO, of Rochester, Minn., and one of the best-known surgeons in the country, recently made a statement before the American Medical Asso- ciation, Dr. Mayo said there were too many operations. He said that surgeons and doctors, instead of making a study of conditions leading to human ills, and thus fore- stalling them, were too prone to perform unnecessary operations, This opinion about operations has long been held by people of common sense, whose experience and observation show that the tendency is to perform too many superfluous operations. It is significant to have it confirmed by one who knows. No Danger, Good Friends ET us offer our humble consolations to those gloomy people who are over-inclined to fear that the plans of the reformers may come true. There is no real danger, and for a most obvious reason. The total cessation of war, the final adjustment of mu- nicipal governments, the elimination of poverty, the brotherhood of man—all these and more are perfectly secure from conquest. And the reason is that the people, taken as a whole, will not stand for dull history. If these things should all come “WAIT A MINUTE, TOM, TILL I ASK MOTHER IF YOU CAN true, there would be nothing to read in the morning STAY TO LUNCH” P papers. Life would be too tame. “I GUESS I WON'T STAY TO-DAY, ETHEL. I'M TOO HUNGRY” comicbooks.com