Life, 1919-03-27 · page 27 of 44
Life — March 27, 1919 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical pieces reflecting post-WWI anxieties: **Top cartoon**: "The T.B.M. Explains" depicts the "last business man"—a dystopian scenario where government has abolished private business. The satire warns against government overreach, suggesting that ideological movements could eliminate capitalism entirely. The businessman's survival through writing pro-government propaganda mocks both bureaucratic control and intellectual compromise. **"His Viewpoint"**: A brief dialogue between a returning soldier (rendered in stereotypical dialect) and a civilian. The soldier ironically notes his life insurance exceeded the war's total cost—dark satire on war's economic absurdity. **Bottom cartoon "On Time"**: Shows a military-trained husband arriving punctually, captioned that military training's sole benefit was teaching him punctuality for his wife. It satirizes the limited civilian applications of military discipline. **"The Beauty"**: A poem mocking women as beautiful but emotionally cold—representative of the era's misogynistic attitudes dressed as artistic commentary. Overall, the page reflects 1920s concerns: government expansion, post-war disillusionment, and traditional gender roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
507 The T. B. M. Explains T last business man was packing up. “Before you leave us,” said a friend, “tell us the story of your past. How do you happen to be the only sur- vivor?” “Tt is a simple tale,” said the last business man. “Of course, once the party in power got the idea, we busi- ness men had to go. The railroads were first run by business men, you know—then by classified votes. After that it was only a question of time when all business would be abolished.” “But you haven't answered my ques- tion. How did you last so long?” “Quite easy. Iw a book on idealism which pleased the government, so they gave me my own time to leave.” His Viewpoint ASTUS jest’ back Jrom the army) Yessah. 1 dun had ten thousand dollars war insurance on mah life when Ah was in de war Samno: Gwan, sand dollars jest on y dat more’n the hull war cc E papers say the new Hotel Com- } a big lift’ in’ which carried in their automobiles right up to their hedrooms. vel and intere but, with Pro- hibition coming so fast, not very useful oe NE-DRY nation means a life “IT’S ALL RIGHT, KID, MY LOSS DOESN'T CAKE WHAT 1 bO WITH HIS CAR” of sorrows without any ce of drowning them The Beauty AD she been kind, She would have given All that he wanted, Lest he i Out of his min By beauty that haunted \s she designed But she was me Cold, if not ¢ . Hard as the setting Chatehi jewel; Made to be scen, For we. ¥, Not petting : Beauty-machine! “ON TIME” Richard Butler Glacnzer. ONE THING, AT LEAST, THAT MILITARY TRAINING DID FOR HIS WIFE comicbooks.com