Life, 1916-03-30 · page 27 of 45
Life — March 30, 1916 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon mocks early 20th-century American bureaucratic expansion. An elderly man named John Doe, ready to die peacefully, is interrupted by successive government officials: a probate officer seizing his assets, a medical representative imposing vaccination and autopsy requirements, an income tax collector, a state biographer, and eugenics society representatives—each demanding control over his death. The joke: faced with such invasive government intrusion into his most private moment, John Doe abandons his honest life and declares he'll become a criminal instead, figuring he might as well "get even" with this "fussy old government." The satire targets Progressive Era reforms—mandatory vaccination, income taxation, medical regulation, and eugenic pseudoscience—portraying them as collectively suffocating individual liberty. The cartoon argues that excessive government intervention drives law-abiding citizens toward lawlessness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Passing of John Doe OHN DOE, a man who had lived a long and useful life, had accumu- lated a modest competence, and who was ready to depart this life, was about to die in peace. As he thought. He gathered his children around him and said: “My children, I have lived man’s allotted time, and I am about to depart in-the fear of the Lord. I—” At this moment a_ representative from the government entered and said: cuse me, but if you haven't made a will you must do so at once. Give me the keys to all of your safe deposit boxes. The probate officer will be on guard at the door until you pass away. If you leave anything we will see that it gets to the right place.” “As I was about to s: John Doe, “I—” The next visitor was a representa- tive of the medical profession, now in charge at Washington. “Your death is entirely irregular,” said this gentleman. “ You will have to die all over again, according to the formula prescribed by the last meeting of assembled doctors. Also, before you remarked Fate: BEWARE, SAMMIE! THE BOGIE MAN WILL GET YOU IF YOU DON'T WATCII OUT die you must be vaccinated and have at least eight serums injected into your system. The causes of your death must be published in the official organ, and in case of any mistake, we get what is left of your estate.” John Doe got up. There were more FASHION NOTE “THE LAST WORD IN LINGERIE” men coming up the steps—the income tax collector, the local tax assessor, the official state biographer, representatives from four eugenic societies and a col- lege brain collector. John Doe got up and said: “Gentlemen, I'll be hanged if I die! I've lived a useful and an honest life. But now I am going out to become a burglar, a cutthroat and a criminal of the worst type. I'll get even with this fussy old government if it takes all summer!” Ode to a Créped Paper Towel RIMPED tissue! blotter apostate! Tricked with the trappings of a towel! Soft, soggy, artificial napkin! Embodiment First!” Spirit of Modernity, depart! Hence with thy stiffened, cardboard swabbishness! Back to thy vests, thy collars, shirt- fronts, cuffs! Serve thou thy mission in thy papered way! But when I come to dry my dripping hands, GIVE ME A TowEL! of progress! “Safety comicbooks.com