Life, 1915-10-28 · page 43 of 52
Life — October 28, 1915 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines editorial satire with advertising. The main content is a **political-economic critique** titled "Achieving a Basis." It mocks the railroad industry's massive spending ($2.7 million annually, potentially $60 million total by 1921) to determine railroad valuations, only to use that data as an arbitrary economic "basis"—a jab at political economists' circular reasoning and waste of public resources. The humor lies in questioning whether gathering expensive information serves any actual purpose beyond justifying further bureaucratic decisions. The page also includes two advertisements: an **Emery shirt** with a comedic anecdote about a foreign visitor being told he must have an appendectomy before leaving America—satirizing American over-enthusiasm for unnecessary surgery as a cultural trait. Below is a **Cat's Paw rubber heels advertisement** featuring a well-dressed gentleman, emphasizing safety on slippery surfaces.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hton org, usic ed! tic, er, ETFE An Unusual Effect in Black and White Enthusiastically approved by critical dressers Shirt Style 29. Fine white cambric. with edges of cuffs ‘and box-plait piped with black. Price $1.50 At EMERY Dealers Made with the EMERY Nek-ban-tab—the Ute tab that iets you sitp your collar luton In without trouble. Exclusively on EMERY shirts. W. M. Steppacher & Bro., Inc., Philadelphia Regular THE distinguished stranger who had visited our hospitable land was about to depart, when his host said: “ Have you experienced everything?” “Tam not sure. “You have experimented with all our systems of diet?” “T think so.” “Been entertained in the suburbs?” “Yes.” “Heard Mr. Bryan?” “Yes.” “Talked and danced with our friv- olous girls?” “Yes.” “But there is one thing we've for- gotten, due to the fact that the custom is no longer advertised, but is still a necessary feature of our daily life. It will keep you a week longer, but it must be done.” “And that?” “Before you go you must have your appendix out.” ees ee CC Achieving a Basis HILE our notions about big arithmetic are often hazy, we note with interest W .that it is now costing us $2,700,000 a year to fd out how much our railroads are worth, and that before we can find out this money or more will have to be spent every year until the year 1921. Some experts even go so far as to estimate that it will cost sixty millions to find out how much our railroads are worth. And by that time the value of everything may be so changed that the work will have to be done all over again. But, assuming that we spend the money and get the desired information, what are we then going to do about it? We shall probably use this information as a “ basis,” in accordance with the well-known habits of political economists. But for what? {NNER ell “Fleeled” Or every walkin 2p o She hster ug wont NTULD cL cATS PAw CUSHION RUBBER HEELS Should be on yourshoes, because— The Foster Friction Plug not only makes them wear longer, but stands between you and dan- erous, slippery sidewalks — you simply can’t slip —makes each step sure. Thousands of people are wearing Cat's Paw Heels today who tried other kinds first. No holes to track mud and dirt. The little “click” of the Foster Friction Plug takes you out of the “ gum shoe” class, They cost no mere than the ordinary kind—and they are easy to find—all dealers —50 cents Onhopedic Heel which — attached—black or tan. ES * iy . Yaluable to policemen, mo- Get a pair today. tormen, conductors, floor wigwvaintovee: THE FOSTER RUBBER CO. [inant their feet a great deal. 75¢ : ‘ stuched u yout delere— 105 Federal Street, Boston, Mass. sostTeR RUBBER, ceipt of Bic. and outline of Originators and Patentees of the Foster \ eect your heel. Friction Plug which prevents slipping. MUNYA eT TTT Seat ee ea eee ae eee aT comicbooks.com