Life, 1914-09-24 · page 27 of 45
Life — September 24, 1914 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story criticizes munitions dealers and war profiteers during World War I. A desperate homeless woman seeks help from a firm called "World Brokers, Greed & Co.," but is coldly refused because they claim to deal only with men—specifically governments and military powers. The firm's representative openly boasts of backing the Kaiser and "imperial governments" to win, prioritizing profit over human suffering. The woman is stripped of her decent clothing and cast back onto the streets, her plight entirely ignored. The satire targets the amoral nexus of war industry and political power: these dealers profit enormously from global conflict while callously disregarding the civilian casualties and devastation. The title's reference to Aesop's fable suggests irony—greed's apparent "victory" will ultimately prove hollow. The cartoon condemns both war profiteers and their intimate complicity with governments waging war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“We're not in that business,” he said, coldly. “Our business, madam, is to ignore women and deal only with men. Here, boy, tell the Kaiser we're backing him. Yes, tell all the im- perial governments the same—we're backing ’em to win.” “Why did you have me brought up here,” said the woman, faintly, “if you will not help me?” “Because you don’t need such a good dress. “Here, boy, take that lady down- stairs and change her gown for the cheapest one we have in stock. Keep the other and let her loose. We can't afford to let anything go, no matter how trifling,” The woman, hopeless, was taken away, robbed of her gown, and once more led out into the street homeless. “What is the name of that terrible firm,” she whispered, “who consider nothing Lut their own diabolical appe- tite, and who are on such intimate terms with those in power?” The messenger pointed to a large sign over the door. And she read: THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE