Life, 1918-12-12 · page 22 of 34
Life — December 12, 1918 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces critiquing modern American life during World War I era: **"A Shattered Ideal"** mocks the "up-to-date business man" obsessed with labor-saving devices and constant activity. In heaven, he cannot find stenographers, telephones, tax forms, or filing systems—the very apparatus of modern business that define his existence. The joke: he's miserable in paradise because he lacks the irritations and busy-work he needs to feel alive. It's satire on American workaholism and technological dependence. **"An Easy Job"** presents a brief joke about a doctor treating soldiers in France during WWI, making him unavailable for civilian patients. The humor stems from the irony that treating wounded soldiers is now considered his "easy job" compared to normal practice. The bottom section references Woodrow Wilson's potential election or diplomatic role, likely topical to the magazine's publication date during Wilson's presidency. The cartoon illustrations support these themes of modern absurdity and wartime disruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Shattered Ideal HE up-to-date business man, ha- bituated to the constant use of all modern labor-saving devices, arrived in heaven on schedule time. The following morning hi St. Peter and said: “You haven't got a second-hand mo- proached tor car that I can spend about an hour oiling up, h 2” “No, sir. He lounged around uneasily until nine o'clock, and came up once more. “ Beg pardon, but about this time of day I am accustomed to arrive at my office. You couldn't supply me with a handsome stenographer, could you? I you won't be happy unless T can dictate something to somebod “Nothing like that here.” “T notice there are no telephones yRisco Oe around, Unless I can be called up at irregular intervals, just when I a the midst of something importa shall be completely upset.” No such thing here.” How about taxes? T feel anu need of going over my personal in- come-tax report and trying to ur it. I feel the absolute need of hy a generous amount of financial de in my daily life. I'm simply lost wit out i “ Nothing doing.” “Can't you give me a complicated filing system to curse over, or rig up an electrical appliance with which to communicate with the happy beings near?” “We have all the time there is ly sir, No w save it. in making any attem Be content with your } The up-to-date business man shook his head mournfully. Then he went over in a corner and muttered to him- self: “No filing systems, no electric wires, no worry about taxes, no bells ringing in your ear, no smells, no distracting noises, no street chinery that has been burned into my soul until I can’t be happy without it And they call this heaven An Easy Job Is this the office of Dr. crossings—no ma- ans, the absent-treatment ply- sician? Artenpant: Yes, sir; but you can’t see the doctor till this afternoon. He's busy every morning treating soldiers in France. 1S Woodrow Wilson elect be the President of the L States or an Ambassador Extraor- dinary? CUTTING THE WIRE