Life, 1918-09-19 · page 12 of 34
Life — September 19, 1918 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces from Life magazine: **"Will It Come to This?"** depicts a wartime scene with civilians discussing a "new war tax." The theater manager character worries the government will tax "the speculators," reflecting anxiety about profiteering during wartime (likely WWI-era, given the reference to "this new war tax"). **"The Unknown"** is a longer story about a bookstore scene where customers repeatedly mispronounce "Czecho-Slovaks," mangling the name into absurd variations ("Zek-o Slo-vaks," "Ko-vax Sla-vex," etc.). This satirizes American unfamiliarity with newly-emerged Eastern European nations and the public's indifference to international affairs—poking fun at Americans' casual ignorance of important geopolitical changes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE HORNETS’ NEST Will It Come to This? IRST THEATRICAL MANAGER Why. they don't care what they This new war tax is something fierce. do to us. Seconn T. M.: I shouldn't be surprised if they'd cat out the speculators. “I'VE BROUGHT YEZ A QUARTER OF A TON 0° COAL” GARDEN HINTS WHEN YOU GIVE THE TWINS PERMISSION TO WATER THE GARDEN, SPECIFY WHICH IS TO MAVE FIRST TURN The Unknown HE walked into a prominent Hookstore—where lovely Monde girls lean up against stacks of Booth Tar! tons and Owen Johnsons and gaze dreamily out of the dis- tant window—and said: ave you a book on Czecho-Slovaks >” xeuse me. What did you say? “The Zek-o Slo-vaks.” She called to the girl in the next aisle “Soy, Mame, have we anything about the Slo-vo Zeck- axe?” “LT said the Zeko-Slo-vaks,.” said the man mildly “What did you say?” now asked Mame, languidly mov- them, “Tt he man said patient girls ca race of people. The n't by Oppenheim The Czecho- Slovaks re trying to conquer Maybe you've heard of Russia. Well, 1 want to Have you any hook Russia. know something more about them, bearing on these modern heroes “Oh, yes.” said Mame to the other lady, find it over there.” "maybe he'll Just then a man, who had been hovering in the rear, came within hailing distance. “Mr. Parsons, have we any book on the—excuse mi said the first blonde. “Zek-o Slo-vaks,” the customer said nervously “The Z ¢ Sla-vo,” said the girl to Mr. Parsons. “No, the Zek-o “No,” said the man who wanted the book, who was hy this time getting rattled, ’s the Ko- the Slav-kax Zo-kek.” He blushed and then turned pale. want,” he muttered. “It's the Ko-zel Wex-o Key-Slav. It's—"” Mr. Parsons, who had been patiently listening, now led the poor chattering wretch firmly to the front door, while Axxo.” vo—I mean ‘ou know what 1 Slo-pex. No, it’s