Life, 1919-03-27 · page 36 of 44
Life — March 27, 1919 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **GIRARD CIGAR ADVERTISEMENT** (left): A straightforward commercial ad for "America's Most Famous Cigar" by Philadelphia makers Antonio Roig & Langsdorf, using the slogan "Never gets on your nerves." Below it advertises a new LIFE magazine binder—a practical product innovation allowing readers to bind six months of issues together for $1.50. **"YOUR INCOME TAX QUESTIONNAIRE" (right)**: A satirical humor piece mocking the newly-implemented federal income tax system. The joke lies in its deliberately absurd questions that expose common tax evasion and dishonesty: inflating income claims to friends while underreporting to wives, claiming dubious exemptions (poker losses, hair tonics), and questions sarcastically acknowledging wartime profiteering on government contracts. The final questions suggest despair—advising readers to "assault a policeman" or hire a "confirmed criminal lawyer." The satire reflects post-WWI frustration with income tax compliance and suggests widespread public skepticism about honest tax reporting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS CIGAR Broker size 13*shown here Other sizes 10*and up Antonio Roig & sdorf Makers: Philadelphi A NEW IDEA IN BINDERS Until now LIFE has ne been able to supply its readers with an entirely satisfactory binder for the convenient and safe preser- vation of the copies of the journal The new invention expands or contracts at will, and makes a convenient volume to handle, as well as being very simple in operation. It_is handsomely made, the outside being black Art Buc with cover design in gilt, and is made to hold six months’ copies of LIFE Sent post free to any address in the United States on receipt of $1.50 LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West Thirty-first Street New York City Your Income Tax Questionnaire (As Compiled by Our Own Infernal Revenue Expert) ] What was your gross income last year? (Find average * by adding amount you tell your friends at the club to amount you tell your wife when she wants a new roy the library, and dividing by two.) 2, What was your net income, after allowing for tips, taxicab overcharges and shirts lost by the laundry? 3. What exemptions do you claim? (a) For draw poker. (b) For wedding gifts. (c) For hair tonic and massages you couldn't escape (d) For boarding wife's relatives, (ce) For installments on the encyclopedia set (f{) For excess paid ticket-speculators. (g) For stock speculations on friendly tips. 4. How much of your income did you invest in Literty bonds and how much in tobacco coupons? 5. Do you own a hen? If so, name in even thousands the approximate value of her output for December and January. 6. When did you last taste meat, and did you pay cash for same or give real-estate mortgages as security for pur- chase price? 7. How much steel stock could you have bought duri the year if you had never taken the car to the repai < (Note.—After answering above, run around the block three times, assault a policeman, take a drink and proceed with the inquisition.) 8 Do you raise your own vegetables, and, if so, how much exemption do you claim for losses on your war garden? 9. Did you make any profits on your business during 1918, and if so, why? Aren't you a loyal American citizen? 10. If you made profits in excess of five hundreil per cent, specify what kind of government contract you had 11. Do you understand the provisions of the incom law or is your education limited to the English lang 12, Do you wish to plead guilty and throw yourseli on the mercy of the court, or will you place your case in the hands of an alienist and a confirmed criminal lawyer