Life, 1918-08-15 · page 25 of 36
Life — August 15, 1918 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces satirizing American wealth and labor dynamics circa early 20th century. **"His Offense"** mocks the wealthy through absurdist humor. A rich man is brought to court where being wealthy is treated as a crime/illness requiring sanitarium treatment. The judge suggests wealth is an "abnormality" the modern world has "outlived," and compares the prisoner to former railroad presidents in similar "hopeless condition." The satire targets both wealth accumulation itself and the judicial system's failure to address real crimes by the wealthy. **"He Drew the Line"** presents a working-class comedy about Mike O'Grady, a foreman who claims he can lick any man under him. When challenged by an equal worker, Mike refuses to fight—asserting he'll only dominate subordinates. The cartoon ridicules workplace bullying and cowardice masked by authority. Both pieces reflect Progressive Era skepticism toward capitalism and labor exploitation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
His Offense MONG the prisoners arraigned in the city court this morning was a man whose face was so sad and whose whole appearance was so wo- begone as to excite the sympathy of all who were present. “What is the charge against this prisoner?” “Your honor, he is a rich man.” The clerk shuddered as he made this statement. “My good man,” said the judge, turning not unkindly to the prisoner, “this is a most unusual case. What led you to become rich?” The prisoner sighed deeply. That there was some good left in him he showed by his abject manner. “Your honor,” he said apologetically, “I just fell into it. I remember even now the first dollar I saved. Of course I did not realize at the time what I was doing. From that fatal moment the habit grew upon me. One day I read an account of the appropriations made in one session of Congress, and a feel- ing of intense shame overtook me, to think that I had fallen into the per- nicious habit of accumulating. But it “When the bough breaks “SAY, SERGI ry ae NT! DO YOU MIND IF I FALL OUT? HERE COMES MY FIANCEE, AND I HATE TO LET HER SEE ME MAKING SUCH AN IDIOT OF MYSELF was then too late. I carried the thing on secretly until I had amassed an un- comfortable fortune.” The judge shook his head. “There was a time,” he mused, “when there were rich men, but the world has long since outlived such ab- normalities. The fact that you have indulged in this old crime, prisoner, shows that from the pathological standpoint you have reverted to type. I shall therefore not send you to jail, but will have you removed to a sani- tarium. I think that, in a short time, with care, you ought to be cured of the craving to be rich. 1 warn you that if you are ever brought before me again on this charge, I shall have you incar cerated with a le presidents who at ¢ of former railroad e time were in the same hopeless .condition that you are ii He Drew the Line IKE O'GRADY had twenty-five Mike was men working for him. burly fellow, proud of his muscu- lar powers. “I want it understood,” he said, with the glare of a lion, “that I kin lick any man on the job.” Another athletic-looking Irishman straightened up and said, “ What's that?) Ye think ye kin lick any one av us?” Shure,” replied Mike, with assur- ance, “1 kin lick any man that works under me.” “Well, ve the he threw down his pick and can't lick me,” sa Mike, “go and get your pay, 1 to the won't 1 can't have that lick.” ny man under me