Life, 1917-03-22 · page 24 of 38
Life — March 22, 1917 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces from an early 20th-century American humor magazine: **Top cartoon** ("Jonah's Coming-Out Reception"): A biblical allusion—the massive whale resembles Jonah's whale. Figures in period dress appear to be celebrating or reacting to its appearance, likely satirizing some contemporary event or person's dramatic entrance into public life. **Middle cartoon** ("How the Subaltern Felt the First Time He Took Command"): A military joke showing a young officer overwhelmed by commanding troops, depicting the anxiety of inexperience in leadership. **"Inflated Affairs" article**: Satirizes *New York Times* economic predictions about post-WWI debt repayment. The piece mocks the Times's suggestion that receiving gold from debtor nations would "weaken" America through inflation—a concept the writer finds absurd, noting readers only know "inflated affairs" through balloons and college graduates. **Final joke**: Humorous commentary on wealth and potential, suggesting even a $20-million steel company president has room to "make money yet." The page demonstrates Life's focus on political and social satire through both visual and textual humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JONAH'S “ COMING-OUT” RECEPTION Prematurely Released SKINNER (all het up) : Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat ! ‘ou sold the wrong batch of fresh eggs to that there grocery man. Sakes alive! How’s that? : Why, he got the lot stamped March S wl ei 1G tie ws, SCH % i 5 HOW THE SUBALTERN FELT THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK COMMAND Inflated Affairs HE New York Times is always foresighted. Lately it has been looking ahead to determine how the nations, after the war, are going to pay what they owe us. If they pay us in gold, it will weaken us, says the Times, for it will “inflate our affairs.” We fear that most of the Times's readers will not jump to this conclusion so readily, This is because their experi- ence with inflated affairs is so limited. With most of us it extends only to balloons, college men and sweet girl grad- uates. We have never viewed any of these inflated affairs with any degree of alarm, however, and certainly we never would have looked upon them as weakening. What are these fearful inflated affairs that threaten us? Let us know at once, so that we may indulge in the proper amount of shuddering. E,0.J. m [GIERE goes Granger—he's president of a steel com- pany.” “Worth anything?” “Twenty millions.” “Oh, well, give him time. money yet.” He's young, and may make comicbooks.com