Life, 1917-09-13 · page 30 of 44
Life — September 13, 1917 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from Life magazine. **"No Hope"** (main story with cartoon): A young man visits a detective agency seeking help contacting his fiancée before their wedding in three weeks. The detective quickly realizes the situation is hopeless—the bride is unavailable because she's absorbed in wedding preparations, surrounded by relatives and bridesmaids. The joke satirizes upper-class wedding culture: once engaged to a wealthy society girl, a man loses all access to her until after the ceremony. The cartoon depicts the Senate and House as broken-down donkeys struggling to pull a cart labeled "War Measures," captioned "I Knew They'd Go Back on Me"—suggesting Congress abandons wartime cooperation. **"A Safe Job"** (brief item): An American correspondent interviews an ex-royal servant in post-WWI Berlin about avoiding danger. The servant claims safety came from staying with the Crown Prince—dark humor implying the Crown Prince (Germany's heir) faced no danger because Germany lost the war, making proximity to him paradoxically safe.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
No Hope | was early when a young man, his face bearing evidence of great anx- iety, entered the office of the celebrated detective agency. The manager, who had just come in, shut the door. “Your story?” he asked. “Ts this. Iam to be married in three weeks to a beautiful and charming girl who—” “Name and address?” The young man gave them to him. The manager consulted a book. “Know all about her,” he said sen- tentiously Wealthy parents. Fine pedigree. Striking girl, noted for her excellent judgment and tast Cul- tured. Attractive. Exclus Well, sir, what can I do for you? “T wish to communicate with her on a matter of great importance The manager of the detective agency mused. This was undoubtedly an un- hte mea S Pes 7” ane {GMAIL NI ey yp 7 “T KNEW THEY’D GO BACK ON ME usual case, and he must not evince any curiosity. “By what means have you tried to reach her?” he asked. erything I can think of. She be- getting ready for the wedding ys ago. That was when com- munication was cut off with me “Ah, yes.” The manager was begin- ning to understand. “You said good-bye?” “Certainly. She explained that she wouldn't be able to see me before the wedding. I understand it is usually the thing in this country.” “Quite usual,” replied the manager, who now had the clue. “ You parted on friendly terms, I presume?” “Quite so.” “Now, tell me what you have done Telephoned, I presume?” “Spent a day doing that. Her line is always bu: gine tl _——— —— i} “ Messenger?” “A dozen. They never penetrated the outer line of relatives and dress- makers, to say nothing of the imme- diate family and the bridesmaids.” “You've written?” “Written and wired. No results.” The manager reflected. He got up. “Young man,” he said, “it is impos- sible, In all my experience as a detective I have never known a fellow who married a society girl who was able to get into communication with her while she was making the preparations.” A Safe Job {ERICAN CORRESPOND (in Berlin, after the war): Weren't you ever in the d Ex-Roya Servant: N always mit der Crown Prince. anger zone? x. I staid comicbookseeniy et