Life, 1915-05-20 · page 30 of 44
Life — May 20, 1915 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes "General Prosperity" as a personified character—a commentary on American economic cycles during the early 20th century. The biographical sketch treats prosperity like a visiting gentleman: born in agricultural America ("the wheat belt"), modest in habits, fond of savings banks, but with one critical flaw: he disappears unpredictably and cannot be reliably traced. The accompanying illustration shows an exclusive club where prosperity is welcome, with the subtitle "Enter the Pessimist"—suggesting that pessimism or doubt about economic stability disrupts this comfortable scene. The satire's point: prosperity in America is unreliable and temporary, arriving and departing without warning, yet always welcomed back optimistically. This likely reflects concerns about economic booms and busts typical of the pre-1920s American economy. The section "For the Sufferers" lists charitable contributions, indicating the page appeared during economic hardship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Short Biography of General Prosperity ENERAL PROSPERITY comes from a long line of ancestors, all of whom have not been so fortunate as he. Many of them, however, espe- cially those who were pioneers and soldiers, contributed their share to make him what he is, This gentleman was born in the wheat belt, and, although he often AT THE CLUB ENTER THE PESSIMIST takes up his residence in town, where they are fond of thinking he is a native, he still claims the broad fields and prairies as his home. He is much more quiet and unos- tentatious in his habits than is popu- larly believed, moving about modestly in byways. He never gambles, drinks but moderately, and is fond of savings banks. He has only one bad habit. Just when you think he has come to stay permanently, he often disappears, and nobody can trace him. But he gener- ally comes back. He is the only one we know who, no matter how long his visit, is continu- ously welcome in every home. For the Sufferers we been re- r C. P. Arnold, .aramie, Wyo., $5.00; Hill Table Golf Club, New York’ City, $s.00; Edward D, Wetmore, Santa Barbara, Cal., $10.00.