Life, 1915-05-13 · page 32 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon ("The Annual Start for 'Camp Roughit'"):** This depicts seven figures departing for summer camp, laden with absurd amounts of luggage and provisions. The satire mocks wealthy Americans' excessive materialism and overpreparation for leisure activities—a common target of early 20th-century satirists concerned with upper-class excess. **"Interviews with Dead Celebrities":** A humorous column where the narrator interviews a deceased figure (identity unclear, though context suggests a famous liar or fraud). The satire argues that lying—once socially condemned—became foundational to American institutions: politics, commerce, religion, and law. This is dark social commentary suggesting systemic corruption has normalized dishonesty at the highest levels. **"Interesting Objects":** A brief satirical list mocking American pretense: hat-check men refusing tips, American naval power, American neutrality (likely referencing WWI debates), overly cautious doctors, and concluding with a racial dialect joke typical of the era. The page's overarching theme critiques American society's hypocrisy, materialism, and institutionalized dishonesty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Interviews With Dead Celebrities. HAD to wait for some time and knock more than once. inally, however, the door opened cautiously and a head came out. “Oh, it's all right,” he said, with a smile. “I thought you were Colonel Roosevelt. He has been bothering me a lot. me in. Have a genuine Havana. They cost me thirty dollars a hundred, f. 0. b.” And he handed me a Hoboken stogie. “ What can I do for you?” T gazed at him in awe and admira- tion, are Ananias,” fellow, since you up quite a reputa » you “Well, old you've tion.” “Haven't I,” he replied. “ And it's a burning shame, too, this having to wait until after you are dead to be recognized, ink of the life I could lead if I was only on earth again.” Do you consider yoursel taking out my note bool As the! worked >” Tasked, a really superior article? say of an artist—are you a master ‘ot at all. I was only an ordi- I had no special talent. Once, indeed, I got into the habit of telling the truth, and my career came near to being ruined, But father got after me.” “That wouldn't happen to-day,” 1 id. “No father and mother have to bother about that now. When did you THE ANNUAL START FOR “CAMP ROUGHIT” first begin to notice your—your spe- cialty?” “Why, after I died, of That's the sad part of it, you and me, I don't deserve my repu- tation, I am only a plain, ordinary liar. Why, there are any number in America: who—" “Yes, I understand that,” I. said, gently, “But you must not forget that you were the pioneer. You gave lying a standing. You put it on its feet. You made it respectable.” “Did 1?” he said, with a gleam in eye. He reached for my hand. Say that again, will you?” he said, with tears in his eyes. “Here I’ve heen all these years laboring under the impression that I was a had character. This is grand news. Tell me more.” Then I told him the truth, “My dear fellow,” I said, brace up! You're the real thing. Why, without you our whole political sys- tem would crumble. There would be no canned goods, no department stores, no system of jurisprudence, no religion, no countries. | You're the master of all the dead ones.” When I left him he was on the roof painting his immortal name on the chimney. course. Between IVIA: Poor, is she? Hattie: Well I guess! She'll have to go round all this summer in a straw hat and no furs, Interesting Objects HE hat man at the restaurant who, when you hand him a tip as you go out, returns it with, “No, thank you, sir. We are not permitted to—" ete. An American battleship going faster than the vessels of any other navy. An American who thinks he is neutral. A doctor who say: “T'd like to operate, but really it isn’t necessary.” “ NOW, RASTUS, I HAVE EXPLAINED THE WORD AMPHIRIOUS. GIVE ME A TENCE SHOWING WHAT IT MEAN “MUSKRATS AM PHIBIOUS BUT DOGS AM Not”