Life, 1924-08-07 · page 12 of 36
Life — August 7, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic story about two characters: Wad (the protagonist and "hero") and Cad (the villain). The narrative follows their romantic and financial rivalry. The satire mocks class pretension and get-rich-quick schemes. Wad is portrayed as a scheming fortune-hunter who pursues the wealthy Josie Hickup. Cad is his jealous rival. The humor centers on Wad's attempts to gain money through marriage and manipulation—offering Cad investment opportunities, negotiating dowries, and ultimately "buying" the bride. The comic satirizes Gilded Age materialism: romance reduced to financial transaction, with judges and legal systems complicit in the mercenary nature of marriage among the wealthy. The characters' names themselves—"Wad" (money) and "Cad" (unscrupulous man)—signal the story's cynical view of relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 ‘ LIPE * WAD THE CAD AND CAD’S WAD (Thovgh his handsome face was placid as he planned his dirty trick.) TM wear the mask of virchoo This, Dear Reader, eae is our Hero, = one Cadwalader D. Kline. “pleasedtamee Cad was saltin, every dime an every nickel he could grab. [station Bot, SF fry penne And the beavteous f 2 Josie Hickup I) is our Sweet young = Heroine. He could hang on- to his money but he couldn't hold his gab, for he peddled — information Their fond love ap- — proximated some three hundred, Fahrenheit. (First meet Wadsworth Nix, the Villain, fon, = far and wide a- bout his roll. (Though requesting the communi- ty to please not tell a soul.) with his soul as black as night!) Now it seems that Cad and Josie Now, considering his emotions, what would seem more natural were afixing for to splice ove as soon as ad could manage to negoti- ate the price. than for Wad to snare the money and to likewise snatch the gal? Ah! but Wad, the jealous scoundrel, was ascheming Jow and slick. That's exactly what he up and underhanded tried to do. (Just contain your- self, Dear Reader, Tl relate it all to you.) the handsome !viltain seeks out his *Cad,” says Wad, “invest your money! you'll octuple it, I'm sure, if you'll buy a bles 1 know of!” Get the lure? Wad delivered plain sweet cider; Suspect | Some base | wickedness. Cad, the simp, did think it odd. (But the upshot of it was that Wad, the cad Caddy'’s wa h’ 1; il on yuh" | OS, Foxy Wad was more than certain Cad would never try to sue, but he did, some six months later. He had let the cider brew. the judge assumes his intelligent % look and y) steps on P ‘the legal es “Where's the evi- dence?” his Honor asked them when he tried the case. (And you should have seen the ecsta- sy that oozed a- cross his face!) "Case dismissed!” his Gee, this is nice! Name your figure, son, I'll buy it!” Cad just octu- plied the price. Pree They were married and they prospered. Josie doesn’t have to drudge. ‘are you nappy.my Se PPY2# an’ gwicet sweet lil squaw?” : (And they called their first, boy “Apple- Jack*-suggested by the Judge.) comicbooks.com