Life, 1915-01-07 · page 19 of 44
Life — January 7, 1915 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on class justice and charitable relief during World War I. **The "Legal Department" cartoon** mocks systemic inequality: a wealthy department-store magnate who defrauds twenty thousand people receives only a $1,000 fine, while a starving man imprisoned five years for stealing bread cannot secure pardon. The joke is bitterly ironic—the advice column suggests the rich criminal can simply repeat his crime after public memory fades, while the poor man must wait years. This satirizes how courts treat the wealthy and desperate differently. **"For the Sufferers"** acknowledges donations to relief efforts, likely for Belgian war victims (referenced by King Albert's gratitude message). The page implies readers should feel morally superior donating to distant suffering while ignoring domestic injustice. **The final joke** about David's statement that "all men are liars" plays on gender bias, with the father suggesting women weren't worth mentioning—a mild jab at male-centered perspectives.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“SEEING AMERICA FIRST” Our Legal Department Q Iam a department store mag- nate. I robbed about twenty thousand nice people, took away their savings and ruined a large business, hesides casting discredit on the meth- ods of all other honest department stores, And for this I have actually Deen fined the enormous sum of one thousand dollars, which I may have to pa How can I obtain justice? A. Be calm. We realize that the courts have treated you horribly, but have patience. In the course of a few months, when everybody has forgotten what you did, you can do it all over again, and maybe the next set of judges will treat you right—provided you are wise enough meanwhile to buy a few newspapers. Q. 1 stole a loaf of bread for my starving wife and children and am in prison for five years. Can you secure my pardon? ; Certainly. Write to us again, say, in five years. 19 For the Sufferers HE acknowledgments below are for contributions received at Lire office inclusive of December 24th: Previously acknowledged Landfield and Steele, Chicago +$3.593-58 Miss S. A. M.-F., Rochester, N.Y. 10.00 Grammar School, Sylacaui 3.00 J. R. G., Dertroit, Mich, : 2.00 Mrs. George Arthur Fleury, James port, L. T.. we 25.00 Ponton M. B., San Francisco, Cal Two Childre! 10.00 5-00 ks) . By New York Cit + $00 . E. P., Chicago, Il . 10,00 R. G. Du Bose, Hopkins, 250 In memory of Dorothy. $.00 I. A., Oakland, Cal... $.00 Minnie C. Rinn, In a, $.00 M. Tige, ew York City Porter Fleming, Augusta 0 S. D. Lee, Avon Park, +) $.00 ‘or the Defenders of Civilization 25.00 W. A.B, Greenville, Pa. + $.00 Gust. Ad. Anderson, Van Wert, O.. 5.00, Billy and Boo, Lake Como, Fla. 5.00 H. A. Sanford, Mocksville, 10.00 Sympath: New York City 5.00 A. H. F.. Trenton, N. J... 1.00 C.D Tl Norwalk, Conn. $.00 $3,786.58 We have also received and forwarded perecls of clothing and knit goods from Mrs. M. B. Haines, lone, Ore.; Miss Jean C, Bradley and Mrs. L. Raymond Siiles, New York City; Mrs” J. R. Loveday, Schenectady, N. Y. Lire’s readers are entitled to share in this acknowledgment from that ruler in Europe who in the misfortunes that have beset his people has shown the courage and heroic qualities that make him indeed a king: In this my country’s hour of trial nothing has supported me more than the sympathy and the superb generosity of those who have assisted in materially lessen- ing the suffering, and I desire to offer my deepest thanks and at the same time to convey a message of good will for the new year. ALBERT, King of the Belgians. And the suffering, the need, of his people still continue. ITTLE BOY (reading aloud): “And David said in his haste, all men are liars.” Say, father, why didn't he mention women also? “ He didn’t consider it necessary, my son.” cComicbooks.com