Life — August 17, 1922 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Putting in the Roman Punch" The article discusses Washington's warning against Roman numerals in official contexts, arguing they create confusion and embarrassment. It proposes gradual public education through everyday uses—price cards, commercial lettering—to improve numeracy. The cartoon illustrates the absurdity through a domestic scene: a shopkeeper or merchant appears to be quoting an inflated price ("SEVEN DOLLARS for ONE hat!!!") to two working-class customers (likely a woman and child). The caption "Is yo' CRAZY?!!" suggests the customers' incredulous reaction to what seems an unreasonable price. The satire connects Roman numerals to commercial fraud—if citizens cannot read "LXXVII CENTS" properly, merchants could exploit them with inflated, disguised pricing. The joke exposes both public mathematical illiteracy and the dishonest practices it enables.