Life — August 30, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

**Top cartoon:** A ship captain addresses wealthy passengers about an ocean voyage excursion to a lighthouse for ten cents, sarcastically asking "what's th' big idea?" The joke appears to mock either tourist exploitation or absurdly cheap entertainment offers to the wealthy. **Bottom cartoon:** Two street hustlers approach a well-dressed gentleman with investment schemes. One mentions "a flyer" from someone named Yurkuf about a lighthouse investment; the second pitches what appears to be a dubious financial scheme ("pumpa da once-over"). **The satire:** Both cartoons likely mock financial scams and get-rich-quick schemes targeting city dwellers, connecting questionable business proposals with shady street operators. The lighthouse reference links both images thematically around suspicious commercial ventures.