Life — April 18, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis The top cartoon depicts a Bishop interrupting two women telling stories, with the caption suggesting the women are sharing "naughty stories." The joke plays on Victorian-era propriety—the Bishop's presence causes alarm that indecorous tales are being told in mixed company. The article "Where Talk Can Help" discusses Senator Johnson of California questioning Senator New about aircraft production delays. Johnson requests information about how many planes were delivered by July 1st, and New responds that "thirty-nine" were delivered—prompting gasps from gallery observers. The bottom cartoon shows a pacifist's nightmare: a man dreaming that two girls he took to a baseball game are fighting in bed, apparently turned violent by the sport's competitive nature. Both cartoons use humor to comment on social propriety and contemporary anxieties.