Life — August 7, 1931 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Labor" Page Analysis This page satirizes labor issues through three sections: **Section A ("Dignity of Labor")** mocks working-class dignity demands—a waiters' union wanting to be called "Monsieur" rather than "garçon," and women domestics seeking to abolish servants' caps. **Section B ("Lovers of Labor")** celebrates wealthy individuals exploiting workers: a burglar, a dramatist profiting from plagiarism, and a robber baron. **Section C ("Haters of Labor")** ridicules labor-saving inventions and schemes—including Henry Fabenholtz's bizarre robot to start coffee and turn on lights. The cartoon "Hitch Hiker" shows a motorist picking up a hitchhiker, captioned "Taking him my way, feller?"—likely commentary on exploitation or coercion. Overall, the page presents labor as comedy: workers' modest dignity demands are mocked equally with wealthy people's parasitism and impractical automation schemes.