Life, 1919-06-19 · page 27 of 42
Life — June 19, 1919 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes business conventions and oil-stock speculation circa the early 20th century. The top illustration ("Our Garden") uses horticultural imagery to mock convention attendees picking oversized fruits/vegetables, suggesting they're harvesting unrealistic promises. The "Conventions" essay mocks the hypocrisy of business gatherings: men waste time and money, become bored and confused, yet claim upon returning home that it was "the most inspiring convention" they wouldn't have missed. The dialogue "There Are Others" references the oil boom. Ned reports oil discoveries "all over the country," but his companion reveals he bought stock in a dozen companies with zero results—satirizing the get-rich-quick speculation mania and fraudulent oil stocks that likely duped many investors. "The Helping Hand" cartoon (bottom) depicts a man struggling with an oil barrel labeled "BEER," possibly commenting on Prohibition-era substitutions or black-market dealings.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
os i ee Conventions T conventions men kill time and murder expense accounts; get the latest stories for the benefit of the boys hack home; nge experiences and i nly the latter; wonder what is they are meeting about, and be- come more confused as time goes on: make a speech so that their names will ks, m: be included in the convention report; knock the other speeches; become hor- ribly bored, terribly tired and pal indifferent; return to tell the general manager of the company that it was by far the most inspiring convention they ever attended, and that they would not have missed it for worlds. There Are Others ED: They're finding off all over the country Nev. Don’t you believe it. 1 bought stock in a dozen companies, and not one of them has struck oil yet. OUR GARDEN IF THE SEED CATALOGUE TOLD THE TRUTIL THE HELPING HAND comicbooks.com