Life, 1918-06-20 · page 20 of 36
Life — June 20, 1918 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from *Life* magazine mocking early 20th-century fads and a public figure. **Top cartoon**: "The Inventors of the Chewing-Gum Pad" shows cows that appear distressed, with the caption implying they're the source of a chewing-gum trend. The satire targets the absurdity of commercial fads. **Main article**: A backhanded attack on John Haynes Holmes (a real minister and social activist of the era). The piece feigns diplomatic praise while repeatedly stating they know nothing about him—the entire essay is ironic. By saying "we are perfectly willing to believe anything good of him," the author actually suggests Holmes is unknown or undeserving of attention. The phrase "milksop" (bottom cartoon) reinforces the mockery, implying weakness. The satire exploits Holmes's relative obscurity to a *Life* readership, suggesting his importance is overstated. The tone is patronizing, offering "help" while implying he doesn't merit serious consideration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Vall (hue RSOY THE INVENTORS OF THE CHEWING-GUM FAD Who Is John Haynes Holmes? HO is John Haynes Holmes? We have often to know, but never before dared to ask. That he is a person of some importance we have no doubt. Occasionally we sce his name in the papers in con- nection with something that is being done somewhere. That is enough to insure that he is of some consequence. Last summer we noticed that he had gone on his vaca- tion. We sincerely hope that this summer he will take another one. We say this in no malignant spirit. We have nothing against him. We believe that the time has now come when we should all work together. We are going to make a-desperate effort to get along with John Haynes Holmes, even if we don't know anything about him. We have never yet seen any human being in whom there was not some good. We believe, in spite of what some people may say against John Haynes Holmes, that much can be made of him. Maybe he did not have the proper influences about him when he was young. Maybe he did. Sometimes it doesn’t make any difference. We have seen perfectly good men go wrong when everything in the world has been done for them. We don’t say that John Haynes Holmes has gone wrong. We wouldn't say that about any man of whom we know nothing. We are perfectly willing to believe any- vanted thing good of him. We would even go so far as to make an effort to believe this, because when you show a man you really believe in him it helps him to do better. If John Haynes Holmes needs help, we are perfectly willing to give it to him. We will do what we can for any deserving man, no matter who he is—even if he is John Haynes Holmes. Not that he may need our help. Perhaps he doesn't. T. LM. “Go ON, YOU MILKsop!”"