Life, 1914-07-30 · page 3 of 40
Life — July 30, 1914 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Article: "The Director Who Almost Lost His Job"** This satirizes a street railway director who proposed allowing men with lit cigars on surface cars. After public outcry, the president defended the rule as unenforced but existing. A protesting director argues it's impractical—gentlemen don't ride cars much, and conductors won't enforce it anyway. The president ultimately withdraws the proposal, calling it sentiment-driven but agreeing to abandon it. The satire targets corporate management ineffectiveness: proposing rules that can't be enforced, then backing down to public pressure despite defending them as merely "advisory." **Right side** features Egyptian cigarette advertising and a sketch titled "Housemaid's Knee." **Bottom** is a Vanity Fair advertisement for its August issue, available at newsstands.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Director Who Almost Lost His Job OMEBODY in the directorate of the street railway system having suggested that the practice of letting men bring lighted cigars into surface- cars ought to be stopped, everybody looked grave. “You will understand, sir,” said the president, “that we have already given it as our august opinion that no gentle- man will enter a car with a lighted cigar in his hand. The public has been told how this practice shocks us. We've given it out as a_ rule, though we don't pretend to enforce it” “But,” protested the protesting di- rector, “there are mighty few gentle- men nowadays riding in cars, Of course, vour rule is not enforced by your conductors. They constantly let by ther whele processions of men with lighted cigars because they are either too busy making change or because they are too cowardly to insist upon the rule. At this the faces of the rest of the directors blanched with anger. “Do you realize,” said the president hoarsely, “that you are out of order, sir? Why, to enforce this rule and make all our women passengers comfortable— to stop this offensive practice—would cost us money! Money! It might have even a fractional effect upon our divi- dends—although Iam bound to con- fess, between you and me, that we are this is only a remote possibi At this statement the face of the protesting director likewise blanched. “Forgive me!" he muttered. “I was actuated by sentiment, I thought the lighted-cigar-in-surface-cars prac- tice might be stopped by moral efforts. But if it is going to cost good money, I withdraw my idea.” “Gentlemen,” said the president, “this man is young and sentimental and is evidently under the impression that we are trying to run our system in the interest of the public. Now that he has admitted his error, however, let's give him another chance.” XAMININ Apsirat (to naval candi- date): Now mention three great ad mirals. Caxpipate: Drake, Nelson and—I bes your pardon, sir, I didn't quite catch a = - your name.—Punch, VANITY FAIR For August—Now Ready —there are charming photographs of the highly xsthetical, very poetical style of outdoor dancing now in vogue; with many other pictures of dancing and dancers. -—there are two pages of London actresses; Acton Davies’ enter- taining reminiscences of the stage; and ‘something about our younger theatrical managers —there is an authoritative article abont the three America’s Cup the Vanitic, Resolute and Defiance; an article on Nor- s, the most promising of the younger American 5; and another on the winning of the Metropolitan Championship by the newest California whirlwind, R. Lindley Murray. —then there are sketches of the actors and actresses that lunch at the Knickerbocker, cleverly caricatured by Ethel Plummer; a humorous essay by James Ford; Stephen Leacock at his best; and many other diverting features. Now on sale at all better-class newsstands HOUSEMAID'S KNEE comicbooks.com