Life, 1916-04-20 · page 15 of 52
Life — April 20, 1916 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration shows a caricatured figure in theatrical pose labeled "HIS FIRST PLAY 'ACCEPTED'" — likely depicting an aspiring playwright or actor celebrating his initial success. The page features three separate pieces of satirical content: 1. **"When Shakespeare Laughed"** — a poem by Christopher Morley celebrating Shakespeare's comedic genius and the laughter his work inspired. 2. **"Our Unpleasant Department"** — dark satire on financial investment during economic hardship, arguing that having no money is the safest investment strategy, given coming economic collapse and death's inevitability. 3. **"Malignant"** — a brief joke about a man who robbed widows and orphans, with a closing dialogue about eloping by car during high gasoline prices. The overall tone is cynical humor about theater, economics, and modern life circa the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
743 When Shakespeare Laughed HEN Shakespeare laughed, the fun began! Even the tavern barmaids ran To choke in secret, and unbent A lace, to ease their merriment. The Mermaid rocked to hear the man. Then Ben his aching girth would span, And roar above his pasty pan, “ Avast there, Will, for I am spent!” When Shakespeare laughed. I’ faith, let him be grave who can When Falstaff, Puck and Caliban In one explosive jest are blent. The boatmen on the river lent An car to hear the mirthful clan When Shakespeare laughed. Christopher Morley. Our Unpleasant Department (Anything of an unpleasant nature will be mournfully considered) UR coal deposits are running out. In a few more years we shall all shiver to death. After carefully looking into all the different securities in which to invest your money, we can assure you that there is no safe investment—nothing, indeed, about which, if you knew the actual truth, you wouldn't lie awake worrying all night. The best way is to have no money. Have you had the grip? Statistics show that few recover. After an at- tack we seem to get well, but this is only an illusion. We walk about a few months, but death in some unexpected form is likely to occur at any moment. Malignant “I HEAR that fellow has spent his entire life in robbing widows and orphans.” “His entire life!’ Oh, how unjust! Why, he didn’t make a cent at it until he was nearly thirty.” HE: Shall we elope in the auto? HIS FIRST PLAY He: Not with gasoline at the pres- “ ACCEPTED” ent price. comicbooks.com