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Life, 1916-04-13 · page 40 of 46

Life — April 13, 1916 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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Life — April 13, 1916 — page 40: Life, 1916-04-13

What you’re looking at

This satirical story mocks a self-righteous reformer who objects to newly installed automatic fare collectors on a Fifth Avenue bus. When the conductor offers him a dime to insert into the machine (the required new system), the reformer refuses on principle—not because he opposes the rule, but because he philosophically objects to *being told* what to do. The satire targets "harmless" reform types: those who voice moral objections to systems they dislike but refuse to actually *act* against them. The reformer won't use the machine himself, but also won't prevent the conductor from doing so, leaving the conductor helpless. He's critiquing the company's rules while passively complying—essentially performing righteousness without substance. The joke is that his "harmless" reform amounts to performative principle: he gets to feel superior without actually changing anything.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IF you Aave that priceless boon— a good head of hair —it is worth saving, isn’t it? If you haven’t it, isn’t it worth striving for? Merely washing the hair isn’t enough! You need the helpof the right kind of shampoo preparation — ap- plied in the best possible way. (See our free Manual offer below. ) While your first shampoo with Packer’s Tar Soap will leave your hair delightfully clean and lustrous, con- tinued use according to the directions in our Manual will give your hair and scalp just the sensible care they re- quire. Try this! Send 10c for sample cake. Packer's Tar Soap “Pure as the Pines” Write for our Manual, “The Hair and = Scal Modern Care and Treatment,” 36 pages of practical information, sent free on request. Packer's Liquid Tar Soap, a perfect cleanser, delicately per- fumed. Liberal sample toc. THE PACKER MFG. CO. Dept. 85 1 Fulton St. New York The Harmless Reformer and the Fifth Avenue Bus HE Harmless Reformer boarded a Fifth Avenue bus at the Penn- sylvania Station, climbed nimbly to the top and made the best he could of one of the narrowly contracted seats, which, he thought, must have been manufactured by a comfort-hater. When the conductor came on deck, the Harmless Reformer handed out two nickels and folded his arms as if the ceremony of paying his fare was complete. Not so the conductor, how- ever. He took the nickels, but instead of passing on, fished forth a dime from one of his multitude of pockets and offered it to the Harmless Re- former. The Harmless Reformer looked at it coldly. “What is that?” he in- quired with a fair assumption of ignorance as to Fifth Avenue bus methods. “You have to put it in the auto- matic collector,” announced the con- ductor. “What!” expostulated the Harm- less Reformer indignantly. “Have to, did you say? Who says I have to?” “It is the rules of the company,” an- swered the conductor politely. “See, it is printed on the backs of all the seats.” The conductor seemed very glad to have this indisputable corroborative evidence so close at hand. Neverthe- less the Harmless Reformer made no move to accept the proffered ten- cent piece. “Put it in yourself,” he said to the unhappy minion of the company. conductor replied. printed on the backs of all the se: “That doesn’t interest me at all,” de- clared the Harmless Reformer. “ The company may force you to abide by its rules because you are in its employ It may bind you all about with red tape and make you submit. But you s I'm in an entirely different category.” “Won't you please take the money back and keep it, then?” suggested the conductor. “I can’t put it in, and, of course, I can’t keep it. The object of the whole business is to prevent me from keeping fares for myself.” “Oh, no, I couldn't think of taking it back,” said the other. “It doesn't belong to me. I may have my own private opinion as to the exorbitance of charging ten cents for a ride of this quality, but the matter has been de- cided in what appears to be a duly legal manner, and until it is changed I expect to live up to it.” “But it wouldn’t hurt you to put the dime into the automatic collector,” Mass Olive Green, the Art Metal Trode Character Why STEEL is slight, but a Good Buy, a large on and Wood “piece a good-bye. pe Send for the 1916, illus, aoe trated, Catalog of ‘i Art Metal Steel Office Furniture & Files A glance through it will tell you why. Your letterhead is your only obligation. Send today without delay. Art Metal Construction Co., lu. 117 Metallic Ave. Jamestown, N.Y. BELL:ANS Absolutely Removes Indigestion. One package provesit. 25cat all druggists “BATHHOUSE 23” “KEEP OUT” OUR LATEST NOVELTY Bathhouse in wood veneer with swins- ing door and brass Fastener: size Ox 8 inches; with the door open you see a beautiful, hand colored picture of an Ostend bathing girl. Comes bo: for 266 to intro- Sataces nee "chatoe al potsaes Tor comicbooks.com