Life, 1915-08-26 · page 32 of 48
Life — August 26, 1915 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents two satirical pieces about exploitative power dynamics: **The Cartoon** ("Friend of the Driver") shows a driver being criticized by passengers for swearing. The joke mocks hypocrisy: those complaining about "bad language" are themselves engaged in unreasonable behavior (likely demanding service or acting entitled). **"An Ancient Episode"** adapts the Sindbad legend to satirize capitalist justifications for labor exploitation. The Old Man of the Sea represents wealthy employers who use circular logic to keep workers subordinate: he claims giving Sindbad employment is morally beneficial, yet refuses to reverse roles. When Sindbad points out this hypocrisy—that if employment is good, the Old Man should accept being carried—the Old Man retreats to religious doctrine and appeals to "law and order." The satire targets how the wealthy justify inequality through contradictory arguments: political economy, religious duty, and appeals to stability. Sindbad's rational objections are dismissed as ignorance, a common rhetorical tactic against labor demands in the early 20th century when *Life* published this.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
tee ats Friend of the Driver: An Ancient Episode ALTER Sindbad had carried the Old Man of the Sea a few pa BS: further he stopped and began to offer objections. “I don’t see that this is doing me any good at all,” said he stoutly. “That's because you are uncouth and said the other, shifting more comfortable position “Asa unlettered,” himself to on Sindbad’s broad shoulders. matter of fact, I am doing you a great deal of good. T am giving you employment and thus performing a great social service. I am giving you a chance to make something of your- sclf, If [ didn't allow you to carry me around you would not know what to do with your time and you might waste it in sinful pleasures. That would be detrimental to us both. After CUT IT OUT, MIKE, TO WASTE ALL THAT GOOD BAD LANGUAGE you have read as many books on po- litical economy as I have you will understand perfectly.” “You say it is a good thing to give employment to others?” queried Sind- bad thoughtfully. “Splendid!” declared the Old Man of the Sea, with evident pleasure at Sindbad’s interest. “Well, then, I should be glad to give you employment by letting you carry me around for a while.” “Oh, no; you don’t understand the theory,” said the Old Man of the Sea, in a fatherly tone. “That wouldn't do at all. You see, the Bible teaches us all to be contented with our respec- tive lots. It would be exceedingly unchristianlike for you to aspire to the position of your hetters. Do not ask me to join in thus destroying your chances for heaven,” “First you talk political economy HE DON'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, AN’ IT's A SAME and then you talk religion,” said Sind- bad. “Perhaps you do it to confuse me. At any rate, your argument doesn’t seem logical to me.” “Don't apologize,” said the Old Man of the Sea. “ You can not be expected to know as much about such things as those of us who have more leisure to make a study of them.” “You have made a study of how you want our relations to be ranged,” rejoined Sindbad, “ but I have also made a study of how I want them to be arranged. You have worked out a theory which warrants you in staying on my back, while I have worked out a theory which prompts me to throw you off.” “Oh, you mustn't do. that,” cau- tioned the Old Man, with great gravity. “That would be a disturbance of law and order, and law and order must be maintained at all hazards.” are comicbooks.com