JF Ptak Science Books Post 1084
The road to ruin is one of the oldest roads known to humanity; and, come to think of it, it was probably a road before roads existed, just an idea waiting for something concrete to show up and claim for its metaphor. But certainly ever since the creation of money came (1) the need to have more, (2) the need to get it, in some fashion and (3) the possibility of losing it (though not necessarily in this order). This image from the 4 September 1909 issue of The Illustrated London News is one in a long, ancient series of appreciating the way to financial doom, although this one happens to be a relatively early attempt at showing this idea via popular metaphor in the visual display. And its pretty effective, too.