Life, 1914-10-01 · page 45 of 48
Life — October 1, 1914 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertisements with satirical content. The main cartoon features **the "American Boom"**—personified as a rotund, well-dressed figure representing post-WWI economic prosperity. Speaking directly to readers, this character boasts of carrying "banknotes" and promises good times, but with a knowing wink: he acknowledges he may owe his existence to "misfortunes of others" (likely wartime profits) and warns he won't stay forever. The humor targets both optimistic Americans and those skeptical of sudden wealth. The Boom is portrayed as vain, temporary, and dependent on being treated well—a satirical commentary on economic cycles and the fragility of the 1920s prosperity. The page also includes a snail cartoon and period advertisements for custom shoes and automobile electrical systems, typical of Life magazine's format blending editorial humor with commercial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
INDIVIDUALITY IN FOOTWEAR Style—Quatitp—Comfort SMART SHOES meds so rouriontes S toharmonize with : Hager cronpstrap sligger made meat Kin talaad White Redor colors to Hat Write for Catalogue “L” showing over Wexclusiveand attractivemodels. E. HAYES Ladies’ Fine Castom Shoes 9-11 West 29th St., New York “I say, MR. SNAIL! BELOW " TRY THE FLOOR Prosit! ADIES and gentlemen, permit me to introduce myself. I am the American Boom. Every once in a while I turn up, like a good penny, My pockets are stuffed with banknotes. You may know me by the gold band ‘hat falle to please. 19146 Style Bonk 255 Arch 8t., Philadelphia, Pa. Read This List Before You Select Your New Car IHERE is a lat of satisfaction in knowing that you can depend upon your Starting, Lighting and Ignition Systems. Owners of cars equipped with the Westinghouse Systems are sure of a spinning start every time they press the starter button; that every cylinder re- ceives a hot spark every time; and that the Westinghouse lighted lamps give a steady and bright light every foot of the way. Westinghouse Electric Systems Starting—Lighting—Ignition are made by engineers who have a world wide reputation and knowledge of electrical apparatus and equipment. The fact that these systems have been tested and adopted by the best automobile engineers in the business is a guarantee of service and reliabili Read this list carefully; there is a car for every purpose. “Aserican La France Fire "Geo. W, Davis Motor Car Co, * Motor Car Mfe. Co." poe Co, “Dorris Motor Car Co. tMoreland Motor Truck Co, IE LAT. The Norwalk Motor Car Co tHupe Motor Car Co, The Pierce Arrow Motor Car Co. Il Motor Car Co. {Pullman Motor Car Co, {The Richards Ato Mig. Co, Brien Detter Co, {Singer Motor Co. ln Tehadetck Entneesog Works McFarland Motor Co. tania) Sel Caro lwick Engineering ‘ort *McFadl b tee! ur Co. 1Chandler Motor Car Go. "The Marion Motor Car Co. Stewart Motor Corporation "Crescent Motor Co., "Ohio™ Volcan Mig. Co * Starting, Lighting and Ignition {Starting and Lighting. % Lighting and Tgnition Sold to Automobile Manufacturers oaly Full information sent on request Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company Automobile Equipment Department Main Office, East Pittsburgh, Pa. Forty-five Offces. Service Stations in Principal Cities. on my hat. I also have hayseed in my hair—real old-fashioned hayseed, the kind that springs from the soil Germany, can thrive best. I have resided abroad a great deal of recent years, largely in I imagine it will he some Some people say I am too fat to be healthy, They are the professional pessimists. They never know a good thing when they see it. Some say I am here, in all my rotun- dity, because of the misfortunes of others. That may be true, but without me, what would they do? I naturally go to the place where I time before I go back again. Make the most of me, good friends, while I am here. I never felt better in my life. But don't work me too hard. I hope to be with you for some time. Depends somewhat on the treatment I get. And now what'll you have?