Life, 1914-12-03 · page 50 of 92
Life — December 3, 1914 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes American materialism and capitalism during World War I. The narrative depicts a scheme where aggressive salesmanship and deception—symbolized by a "cannibal" character representing predatory business practices—are used to exploit wealth from the wealthy. The central joke: a con artist sells a stolen carpet to a rich woman ("Mrs. Strappy") for thirty million dollars by manufacturing urgency (falsely claiming a cannibal is attacking). The accompanying dialogue mocks how American businessmen built fortunes through dishonesty and inflated claims. The "Christmas Carol" poem that follows underscores the satire's moral critique: it notes the irony of Christian nations celebrating peace while engaged in actual warfare (World War I, ongoing at the time). Together, the cartoon and poem condemn American hypocrisy—celebrating Christian values while practicing unchecked greed and participating in global conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ By the way,” she asked the chief, “how did you manage to be king?” The cannibal smiled the smile of genius. “Me had many bamboos, worth just nothing. Me advertised very much. Me lied very much. Me sold bamboos very high. Me king.” “ Poet!” “Yes, mm?” “You hear him? He is a super- man. Learn your lesson!” (I did.) eee ee The next morning I knocked at Mrs. Strappy’s tent. “Dear madam, there’s no time to lose; I've obtained inside information. These people are short of bacon just now; in half an hour you will be cooked and eaten!" UNCLE SAM’S DREAM “There's the carpet!” “There is no time for us to discuss the propriety of the rights of owner- ship, but the carpet’s mine.” “I understand. Ten dollars for standing room.” I looked over my shoulder. “There's a cannibal rushing toward us,” I said. There was; the evening previous I had myself carefully in- structed the man what to dd. “He is hollering, ‘Meat, meat! “Name your figure, quick!” “Thirty million dollars.” “Mercy!” “Tam a superman!” “You are a superthief!” “The cannibal is coming, swifter than the wind.” “I won't!” “He's not ten yards off.” “Here!” Her check-book fluttered in the wind—we flew. eee ee Did you notice the latest abomina- tion on the Avenue? It’s mine. A Christmas Carol—1914 OD save you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay. What though the gentle Prince of Peace Was born on Christmas Day? And though great Christian nations Resound with clash of arms? And Christendom, from end to end, Is filled with war's alarms?