Life — May 4, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical advice cartoon titled "Don't—If You Would Be Happy," offering ironic guidance on financial management and domestic life. The cartoon warns against various spending habits and lifestyle choices: - Don't drink excessively ("too much") - Don't be a "grouch or kill-joy" - Don't let expenses exceed income - Don't be a "tight wad" - Don't spend your last dollar on luxuries (homes, cars, entertainment) - Don't associate with "other men's wives" The cartoon reflects early-20th-century middle-class anxieties about budgeting, morality, and social respectability. It satirizes both excessive indulgence and stinginess, suggesting the "happy" life requires financial prudence and moral restraint—though the cartoon's ironic tone implies these warnings were frequently ignored by its readers.