Life, 1919-01-16 · page 23 of 34
Life — January 16, 1919 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces from Life magazine (likely early 20th century): **Top cartoon "He's Me Brudder!"**: Shows a crowded dock scene where a man claims kinship to avoid trouble. The accompanying dialogue reveals dark satire about influenza's psychological effects—the disease apparently causes victims to become introspective and "talk that way" (expressing selfishness concerns), making them "never any good any more." The doctor's response suggests the flu destroys both body and spirit unpredictably. **Lower left cartoon "Until You Know the Truth of the Case"**: Depicts a ship's steward assuring a passenger about safety from torpedoes, implying the steward accepts bribes ("no matter how much you may give me") without fear of waste—likely satirizing wartime corruption or confidence schemes. **Text pieces**: Include poetry about regretted letters after a broken engagement, and humorous observations about artificial memory systems and gender roles. The page overall reflects early-20th-century concerns: wartime dangers, disease, romantic disappointment, and social hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNTIL YOU KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE CASE “He's ME BRUDDER!” down, and he'll be out in a week, but the flu has done him up all right— he'll never be any good again. Poor man!” “What's the matter with him?” “Oh, he’s been gabbling that he's sel f- ish and isn’t as happy as I am. When they talk that way they’re never any good any more. Funny how it affects vem.” The doctor shook his head sadly be- fore he passed on. “Strange,” he muttered. “If this infernal disease doesn't get "em one way, it does another.” “W/ELL, steward, no more danger of being torpedoed now, is there?” “No, sir. No matter how much you may give me, you know it won't be wasted,” After a Broken Engagement HE letters that I said I'd write, I thought I would—but could not The letters that I wished to write, I really could—but would not The letters that I yet might send, Are those that now—I should not. Mary M. Bartlett, Too Much to Ask ED: Is that artificial memory sys- tem you took up any good? Nep: It has its limitations, of course. It would never teach you to remember the name of the Vice-Presi- dent or the words of the Star Spangled Banner. MOTHERS make men, and wives mend them. comicbooks.com