Life, 1917-02-15 · page 40 of 42
Life — February 15, 1917 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertising with two distinct pieces of satirical content: **"The Unwelcome Visitors"** depicts an allegorical encounter between the "God of Toil" (representing labor and industry) and a bespangled, made-up female figure (likely representing Pleasure, Distraction, or frivolity). The satire suggests that idle pursuits interrupt productive work—a common Progressive Era anxiety about labor efficiency and moral discipline. **"Fickle Business"** is an extended essay personifying Business as an unreliable woman ("fickle jade") who constantly changes her moods and demands. The piece argues that when economic conditions shift unexpectedly, we shouldn't blame each other or Business itself—she's simply doing her nature. This appears to address business cycle volatility and the need for acceptance rather than recrimination during economic disruptions. Both pieces use gendered allegory typical of early 20th-century satirical writing. The surrounding advertisements (Roederer Champagne, White Horse Scotch) are period luxury goods.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LOUIS ROEDERER CHAMPAGNE FRANCE - Ghe Finest Led uct that Moan h as dza wn , [oom Voatuze’ Brut Spectat Cuvee VINTAGE 1904-1906 As Reserveo For Great Brrrain Granp Vin Sec (Brown LABEL) “OH, BROTHER, RENOUNCE, I BEG OF You, THE PATHS OF DARKNESS AND LET ME LEAD YOU TO THOSE OF LIGHT. THIS BOOK CON- TAINS THE KEY TO ALL HAPPINESS.” “WHAT'S THE PRICE?” The Unwelcome Visitors “ LJEIGH-HOI” The God of Toil was busy in his workshop. Great clouds of gritty smoke hung over his giant forges. Sparks from huge anvils flashed intermittently through the darkness. Railroads were building. Great steel structures were be- ing welded. But the thin sweet voice reached him, and he looked up from his labor to see standing in the doorway a bespangled, airy figure. There were spangles even in her hair, and it was un- deniable that she was made up. She smiled alluringly at the God as she drew near. “ Heigh-ho!" she said, “and how are Fickle Business USINESS is nothing more nor less than a fickle jade. Business is never really bad, how- ever. On the contrary, Business is always good according to her lights. That is to say, Business is always busy, and always will be so long as men find it difficult to get food, clothing, shelter and trimmings, Her worst fault is her fickleness. Time after time, just as it begins to look as if Business were going to settle down, become thoroughly domesticated and trained in the way she should go, so that she would continue loyally and faithfully to remain in statu quo, lo and behold, a change takes place in the affection and the mental and moral make-up’ of Business, some hitherto ignored force or fact decides to assert itself, giving us an unexpected resultant, up- setting our cherished ideas, necessitating a new shufle and deal and requiring our political cconomists, who thought they had finished their work, to write it all over again according tw the changed conditions. When such crises come, therefore, we must not blame each other. Nor, indeed, must we blame Business, for she is merely fulfilling her proper function of keeping herself and everybody else busy. Scotland's best by test The con- noisseur’s favorite since 1742 ough wipii “6 the ( “6 “4 turni comicbooks.com