Life — March 6, 1924 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts government assets being auctioned off as a "Mill End Remnant Sale." The Capitol building is shown on a moving platform labeled "SOLD," alongside what appears to be the Washington Monument on another truck, also marked "SOLD." The satire mocks the liquidation of American governmental institutions and values—the sale advertises "Moral Responsibility, Honor, Ethics, etc., to be practically given away," suggesting the government is disposing of its principles for profit. The phrase "A Triumph of Merchandising!" drips with irony. The cartoon likely critiques either post-WWI disarmament, government downsizing, or political corruption of its era. Without a visible date, the exact historical moment is unclear, though the style suggests early-to-mid twentieth century. The barren landscape emphasizes the bleakness of this "bargain day."