Life — March 24, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "He Drew His Wages, Too" This cartoon satirizes a book reviewer's complaint about writers who use their newspaper book-review columns for personal gain rather than honest criticism. The caption references someone named "Bill" who "drew his bath" on the wall—a visual pun suggesting he literally illustrated his wages/payment. The cartoon shows a man in formal dress drawing on a wall while a small figure (possibly representing a publisher or editor) watches. The satire targets reviewers who abuse their positions: the article criticizes those "paid more to review current literature" than their salaried colleagues, suggesting they profit from favorable reviews or use their platform for self-promotion rather than genuine literary assessment. The piece advocates for more rigorous, honest book criticism and less personal interest-driven reviewing.