Life, 1915-07-22 · page 14 of 44
Life — July 22, 1915 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece depicts a man entering a street railway superintendent's office to congratulate him on a pleasant trolley ride experience. The humor lies in the contrast: the visitor praises the conductor for giving him a transfer and general politeness—"little things" he says add to life's pleasantness. The superintendent, however, responds with skepticism, noting the cars are twenty years old and questioning why the man came in just to praise routine service. The satire targets the low expectations for public transit service—a rider is so shocked by basic competence and courtesy that he feels compelled to formally commend it. This reflects early-20th-century frustrations with urban transportation quality and worker indifference.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
150 Naples H, siren city, symbol of the South, Whose wild, sweet mouth Has lured all wanderers to drink thy breath Of joy and death! Oh, languid fingers, swift and sure to close On sword and rose, Belov'd enchantress, aged and stained with strife, Who wakes to life As passionate, as reckless of desire As when the fire Of thy dread, wondrous first did light The starlit night, Forever young—oh, burning, beating heart And mad thou art, Forever eager for the unknown Dliss And thy first kiss Brings whole surrender as we learn too well Thy ceaseless spell. Leolyn Louise Everett. mountain A Warm Admirer HE slipped quietly into the office of the superintendent of street rail- ways and, with a deferential smile, spoke thus to that distinguished gen- tleman: “Just taken a ride in one of your street cars, sir, and dropped in to con- gratulate you. Delightful sensation, I assure you. Worth coming a distance to go through such an experience.” “Um! Glad you were pleased.” “Yes, sir, more than pleased. The conductor insulted me once or twice as I got on, and I had some slight diffi- culty in making him give mea transfer, but little things like that only add to life’s piquancy. Fine ride, I assure you.” “Well?” “T rather enjoy standing up—which I did while in the car. Fine straps you have, Nothing like getting close to one's fellow-creatures, My feet were trod upon by a splendid gentle- man. Wonderful system you have. Your cars can’t be over twenty years old.” “Did you come in here to—” “Excuse me, but I am a lover of er (finding his seat occupied): CAN YOU TELL ME, MADAM, WITHOUT GETTING UP, WHETHER YOU ARE—ER—R—SITTING ON MY HAT? efficiency, and that is why I dropped in to show my appreciation. I under- stand that you own the municipal council, control the franchises and put your own men as members of the Public Service Commission—and all for the good of the people. I admire ability, like that so intensely that I just couldn’t resist paying you a friendly call. It is only men like me who know how to do you honor.” The superintendent rose up. “Who are you?” he muttered. “TI, sir,” replied the — stranger, proudly, “am now retired. But for many years I have been the president of a gas company in a suburban town,”