Life, 1916-11-23 · page 11 of 40
Life — November 23, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration shows a figure identified in the caption as "T. Mezmer Rysing, who has recently married money for the fourth time." The cartoon satirizes wealthy individuals who marry repeatedly for financial gain rather than love—a common satirical target in early 20th-century publications. The surrounding text lists contrasting wants of men versus women (beauty, flattery, power, money), followed by humorous commentary on efficiency and morality. A smaller cartoon depicts children and apples, with dialogue about theft ("Then hold these while I get some more"). The overall page mocks social hypocrisy: marrying for money while society preaches morality, and petty dishonesty among the young. The satire reflects period anxieties about materialism and declining values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GREAT AMERICANS T, MEZMER RYSING, WHO HAS RECENTLY MARRIED MONEY FOR THE FOURTH TIME Efficient Inefficiency NE of the most important ham- strings to progress arises from the great number of people who are tre- mendously efficient at doing inefficient things, The German military machine offers a shining example of this. Few deny that these German militarists are ef- ficient, while few assert that they are of any value either to Germany or the rest of mankind. How much better it would be if they were making shoes, for instance. Perhaps they couldn't make a shoe as well as they could sink a ship, but it is much better to have the surface of the earth covered with poor shoemakers than with good murderers. “EVERYTHING is higher than it was.” “ Yes—everything but morality, hon- esty and patriotism. 895 What a Woman Wants EAUTY, Flattery. Money to spend. Many acquaintances. Electric coupé. Story of the latest engagement. Pearl necklace. To look like other women. To go to heaven. A boy and a girl, maybe. Her own way. What a Man Wants OWER. Money to save. A few friends, Comforts. Log cabin in Maine. Big touring car. Facts about that deal. Smooth collars enough. To keep out of hell. His privileges. His own way. Directions for a Pacific President F at first you don’t succeed, crawl, crawl again, ORGIV! forgive those who Zeppelin against us our Zeppelins as we “MISTER, DO YOU LIKE APPLES?” “Not” “THEN MOLD THESE WHILE I GET SOME More.” comicbooks.com