Life, 1915-03-25 · page 37 of 44
Life — March 25, 1915 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Left side - "A Real Artist" cartoon/story:** This satirizes a con artist who infiltrates a bank president's office claiming various implausible connections (Federal Reserve creation, Washington influence, financial assistance). The banker grows increasingly frustrated. The punchline reveals the visitor is actually a "facial artist" studying the banker's expression for a movie he's rehearsing—the entire visit was theatrical manipulation. It mocks both con-artist audacity and wealthy men's gullibility. **"Efficiency" section:** This brief satire critiques the era's obsession with efficiency and wealth-building by suggesting that pickpockets are actually the most efficient wealth-getters relative to effort expended. It's cynical commentary questioning whether capitalist "success" differs morally from theft. **Right side:** Weed Chain tire advertisement showing product placement on automobile wheels—standard commercial messaging, not editorial content. The page combines satirical commentary on 1910s-20s American capitalism, bank systems, and social ambition with period advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“SWEET ARE THE USES OF NEUTRALITY” A Real Artist HE care in auietly and sat down in front of the desk of the president of the bank, before that august indi- vidual was aware of it. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’m not a crank—no concealed weapons of any kind. Don’t want to borrow money. Am not a book-agent. No axe to grind. Just dropped in to pay my respects. How are you?” “I'm well, sir,” stiffly. “That's good. Nice bank you have here. Looks fairly prosperous—for a bank. By the way, perhaps I can help you out.” “In what way, sir?” “Let you have a million or so—no security. Might underwrite some bond issues for you. Put you all right down in Washington—all friends of mine down there. If it hadn't been for me, sir, I doubt if the Federal Reserve idea would ever have been started in this country. Per- haps you need some depositors?” The gentleman he addressed was reaching rapidly the end of his rope. “Look here, sir!” he exclaimed. “ What do you mean, anyway? You act like a lunatic. What's your object? Who are you?” His voluntary guest got up and, preparing to make a graceful exit, bowed, as he moved toward the door. “I'm one of the greatest facial artists in the country, sir,” he said, with a quiet smile. “Recently went into moving pictures. I am now rehearsing in a new financial drama in five reels, I take the leading part, and Is came in here, sir, to obtain at first-hand an intimate knowledge of the expression on the face of the president of a bank when some one is friendly to him. Only way I could get it, sir. Much obliged to you, sir. Good-day. No harm done, I trust.” Efficiency RICK the hubbub of efficiency that rages nowadays and what do you find? The answer—presumably— on how to get rich quick. Speaking comparatively with reference to the amount of effort expended, the pickpocket gets richest the quickest of anyone we know. Why not crown him Chief of the Efficiency Bureau? After all, what is getting rich but taking moncy from somebody? _ pick the easiest way in the hardest foun and prevent the front wheel skid- the most dreaded of all skids as itis the hardest to counteract by manipula- tion of the steering wheel. WEED CHAINS o2 the front tires Aso manufacturers of Tire Chains and Lyon Grips especially constructed for Single and Dual Solid Truck Tires —Motorcycle Tire Chains Ge. comiebooks.¢