Life — November 13, 1919 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon page depicts various office and household workers portrayed as primitive cavemen, humorously suggesting they're stuck in prehistoric working conditions. Labeled figures include a "Clerk," "Detective," "Lobby Lounger," "Chamber Maid," "Manager," and others engaged in recognizable modern activities (desk work, investigations, lounging) but rendered as crude, ape-like creatures. The satire criticizes contemporary working life by equating it with primitive, backward existence—suggesting these jobs are menial, degrading, or offer no progress despite modern civilization. The "Billing the Register" and similar scenes mock the monotony and lack of advancement in service and clerical work. This reflects early 20th-century social commentary about labor conditions and class hierarchy in industrial America.