Life — April 12, 1929 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Tailor Made" by Eric Hatch This story satirizes class anxiety and financial desperation during economically hard times. Old Mifkin, an uptown tailor, worries about collecting a $300 debt from a wealthy client named Holliday. The narrative suggests Mifkin's precarious social position: despite his skill and pride in dressing the upper classes, he remains financially vulnerable and dependent on wealthy patrons who may not pay. The accompanying sketch shows Mifkin at his desk, troubled by the collection problem. The story explores themes of class difference, professional dignity, and economic insecurity—a tailor's pride clashing with his powerlessness against defaulting customers. The humor lies in Mifkin's internal conflict between maintaining dignity and pursuing legitimate payment.