Life, 1917-08-30 · page 14 of 40
Life — August 30, 1917 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: **"Impossible Conversations"** depicts an exchange between two figures (Creel and Josephus) about press censorship during what appears to be WWI. The dialogue mocks the contradiction between claims of no naval censorship while actual censorship is clearly in place. **"Death of the Demon Rum"** is a grotesque illustration showing the personified death of alcohol—likely related to Prohibition efforts gaining momentum in early 20th-century America. **"How to Beat the Game"** satirizes wartime price controls and profiteering, suggesting the only way to afford goods at inflated prices is through personal connections and black-market dealings. **"Ambiguity"** presents a sardonic quote about WWI, questioning who will actually "win" the peace. The overall theme critiques government hypocrisy and wartime economic disruption.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
334 Impossible Conversations OW, Creel, let's get together on is press censorship. 1 hope you understand that) under no cireum- about the navy is to stances anything Josephus, let me ask if that includes yourself?” “Tt certainly does, That's what's the matter, By. publishing things about me, everybody knows that Tam a man who deals in little things rather than hig ones, and that what the navy has done and is doing is being done in spite of me. If that censorship could have begun far enough back, think of what a reputation | might have had!” “Well, any mention of your name aiter this will mean six months in jail. I'll make you as obscure as Marsh But what am I to do about myself live on publicity.” “My dear Creel, don’t let that make any difference. Just go right on say- ing what you want about yourself They knew what you were, anyway, before you took the job, now published will make nd nothing y differ- ence.” EWLYWED: Why don't you DESTIN OPS MESREMON RUS marry, old top? You're broke all the time anyway! How to Beat the Game HE United States navy gets gasoline for eleven cents gallon, If you are fortunate enough to know a good- natured ensign on a patrol boat, he will let you buy gasoline from the boat's tank at the price the government paid for it. Otherwise you must pay from twenty-two to twenty- ich gallon. The same thing holds true in If you know a wholesale grocer, he at The answer to the overwhelm- eight cents for other commoditic will let you buy camed goods at one-half the price t ordin, persons must ing-cost-of-living problem is therefore very simple. All that one need do is to make friends with the people who are realizing over one hundred per gent. profit on the com- modities which th sell. Then one can buy the com- le price. Folk who can’t make modities ata reaso friends have no business to be alive, anywa: Ambiguity HE Kaiser says to his troops on the Western front: “We shall not let loose our hold until a happy peace is won” Just so: but who is going to win it? I {' has got the first dollar that he ever carned!” What a bally ass! Think how much more he MEMOMIES OF A FRIEND THAT L3 GONE could have bought with it had he spent it then!” o comicbooks Bev