Life — March 13, 1931 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "It Might Have Been You" Cartoon Analysis This political cartoon satirizes vulnerability to theft and crime. The image shows a well-dressed man who has been robbed—stripped of valuables like his watch, ring, wallet, and even the cheques from his ribs. The accompanying text emphasizes the shocking ease of such theft: "nothing to disturb his walk" before the robbery. The satire's point: the cartoon promotes **A.B.A. Cheques** (traveler's cheques from the American Bankers Association) as protection against theft. By depicting a man left with nothing after robbery, the ad argues these certified cheques are the "modern way of protecting your money" while traveling—safer than carrying cash, which offers no recourse if stolen.