Life, 1914-09-03 · page 13 of 48
Life — September 3, 1914 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Mammon** (wealth/materialism personified). The top illustration contrasts two scenes: a graveyard burial on the left with children and simple surroundings, versus a grand church interior on the right filled with wealthy mourners. The caption reads "BEREAVEMENT: SOME ARE HARDER TO BEAR THAN OTHERS"—mocking how the rich display elaborate public grief while the poor grieve quietly. The accompanying text describes a wealthy "leading citizen" named Mammon who cycles between neglecting and courting society depending on his influence needs. The satire targets his hypocrisy and social climbing. The lower section addresses **Boy Scouts**, defending them against claims they promote militarism, arguing such organizations are naturally hierarchical. The cartoon critiques wealth-based social hierarchies and performative mourning among the affluent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SOME ARE HARDER TO BEAR THAN OTHERS Mammon UR leading citizen. Belongs to one of the first families, and is a member of the Stock Exchange and all of the leading clubs; also belongs to wealthiest churches and makes periodical visits to suburbs in order to keep up his growing interests in those regions, Has summer homes in Newport, Bar Harbor and Adirondacks. Winters in California, Europe, Fifth Avenue and Palm Beach. Mammon is not, however, our oldest resident. He came to this country some time after the landing of the Pilgrims and the Puritans, but not receiving the consideration due to his rank and influence, he went away. He returned again, however, after much urging, and since then we have been trying to make up for our initial neglect. Mammon is genial, good-natured and popular. Some declare that upon close intimacy he is very exacting and sometimes goes back on his oldest friends This, however, is doubtless a canard circulated by the envious. He must be all right; otherwise he would not be so worshipped by the American people. 'HE claim often made for the Boy Scouts that they are not intended to serve the purposes of militarism seems to be disproved by the facts. They are doing their share in the great war. This is inevitable. Any Bey Scouts organization must of necessity be a breeding place for war germs. Se AS THE CADDY APPEARS TO US DURING OUR INITIAL EFFORT