Life, 1924-03-20 · page 4 of 42
Life — March 20, 1924 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a short satirical story titled "In the Line of Business" alongside period advertisements (Oshkosh trunks, Elizabeth Arden skincare). The story appears to mock corporate expense practices and syndicates. A Banker thanks a Promoter for helping float a company, offering him a "1924 Super-Buono limousine" as thanks. The Promoter negotiates syndication rights with other Bankers, extracting premiums (5%, 2.5%) for the privilege. At lunch, the Banker pays the check and asks the Promoter if "this business getting fierce?" — to which the Promoter replies "You bet," implying competitive greed. The satire targets early 1920s financial practices: inflated corporate perks, kickbacks disguised as business arrangements, and the increasingly cutthroat nature of financial syndication during the Jazz Age boom.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Weight of Tradition KING « FI aid iced wa er teered, He put the am Rich in traditior torical as all get-out . didn’t you He put down, he remarked, and wrote down more ex- stationery. “They knew a x when they saw it.” T'll bet they did,” Tass He added a few more items and to taled the column. he said and gave me my bill. My eye- halls rolled, but T hunted dow my check book and made out the check. “Here you are,” said I, with false ited weakly aiety the air to dry it, “To think,” he mused, He waved the check gracefully there was once pirates all over this place in the exact spot where we are standing right now,” he said. Very likely so,” I agreed. “You k said this sentimer First impressions are made as often on things un- clerk seen, as seen. Oshkosh Luggage is inconspicuous = at me in circles where essential niceties are taken for 3s very spirits hanging around this desk granted and only shortcomings are remarked. HOW. He OSHKOSH «ree serge wardrobe trunks pe. wih To cleanse the skin ler impressiv mmetimes I seem to feel the ° HE first step in every 4 scientific skin treatment given in Elizabeth Arden’s fashionable Salon is a thor- ough gentle cleansi of the skin with V TIAN t CLEANSING CREAM Use it at home in the daily care of your skin. It melts into the pores, re THE OSHKOSH TRUNK COMPANY: OSHKOSH -WISC In the Line of Business Tir Banker sat in his private office thorized to be issued to the p d but smilin, T way of reimbursement. > was just The head of the Purchasing Depart ence with a Promote: about to leave him. he Promoter felt ment in the ofhce recommended a friend ves dust ve the certificates. The friend happy and triumphant, but, bei to eng moter, he didn “LT want to thank you for helpi to float this company,” he said to alice 4 added and impurities, keeps the and gave 2% per cent. to his friend the head of the Purchasing Department per cent. to his regular pric nd soft and sup- uuvenir of my And Eliz i's Salon for personal tre a ten-cylinder That very day the Banker met Promoter at lunch, At the c¢ ste I of the meal the Banker pai The Care of the and handed fifty cents to the waiter. A at home, off, the Banker re “How did you get on?” they asked tipr “T put it over all ri replied the which the Promoter replied: "You bet ap 1924 Super-Buc » limousine — se here to you at noc And away went the Prom the good news to the members of the waiter sh syndicate he was representi 673-A Fifth Avenue, New York don, 25 Old Bond Street 2 rue de la Paix Promoter. it will cost you boys Pu $15,000 extra for expenses.” —" “AML right,” said the Syndicate, and $20,000 ex ULAR Ss Any seed | «& joo common stock was au- catalogue | comicbooks.com