Life, 1915-10-28 · page 49 of 52
Life — October 28, 1915 — page 49: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical commentary with period advertising. The main story, "Mother's Birthday Present," depicts a working-class girl named Lizzie being exploited—a man extracts her tooth to coerce her into showing him her album. The narrative critiques urban poverty and predatory behavior toward vulnerable children. Below, a "MOTTO of Big Business" sardonically observes that corporations don't care who writes state constitutions, only that they control local laws—a jab at corporate influence over legislation. The editorial piece on "The Railroad" quotes James J. Hill's claim that regulations prevent railroad profits, then satirically counters that mismanagement and stock-market manipulation by railroad executives—prioritizing personal enrichment over infrastructure and public welfare—are the real problems. Advertisements fill the remaining space, including Evans' Ale and California Exposition steamship travel, typical of the era's commercial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“IN THE FIRST PERSON” Mother's Birthday Present (Continued from page 800) her lip, and the blood oozed from her tender gum. “Plliceman, p'liceman, help!” she screamed. Seeing the people in the neighborhood coming to Lizzie’s rescue, the stomach and voice promised to return her money if she would keep quiet. “Tm goner tell ‘em all you knocked my teeth out ‘less you gi’ me the album,” snapped Lizzie. “At right,” meekly answered — the stomach and voice, who had been collared by this time, but was, released when the men received Lizzie’s invitation to come up the alley and see her album. “ Good-bye, mister—thanks awfully for the gum an’ pencils, too,” and away she ran, the album in her arms. When in the room, she locked the door for fear the album would be taken ty, look! A’ album, and me on'y seven. They'll just have to call me Elizabeth, freckles an’ lees an’ all.” OTTO of Big Business—We care not who makes the constitutions of the states so long as we can con- trol the buy-laws. 2 Natural Tonics —Bracing foram Weather 9 Breathe the one and drink the other. Both natural tonics and joy makers. Fill the soul with Autumn’s genial glow. There's Evans’ Stout, 100 “By Way of New Orleans” The most comfortable way to or from the CALIFORNIA EXPOSITIONS It means a “Hundred Golden Hours at Sea” on Southern Pacific Steamships “MORGAN LINE” affording direct connections with the Sunset Limited Every Day in the Year—No Extra Fare New Orleans Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco Write for full information and literature L. H. NUTTING, General Passenger A: jew York City 1158 Broadway 366 Broadw 39 Broadw sz 27th Street ai Franklin Street near Wall Sereet The Railroad R, JAMES J. HILL says that the railroad, “like every other activity in the M world veaeiing the investment of capital, not only will not grow, but will contract if laws and regulations prevent it from carning a reasonable profit.” Then, too, a railroad will contract if its managers neglect roadbed and equipment, thinking only of profit and of how, juggling the stock market, to deflect this profit into their own pockets to the exclusion of the interests of stockholders, passengers, shippers and the public in general. Also if, after doing this, they try to convey the impression that they are engaged in a strictly business enterprise. For further informa- tion see the Reid-Moore Syndicate. comicbooks.com