Life, 1919-04-03 · page 18 of 60
Life — April 3, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American puritanism and post-WWI anxiety circa the early 1920s. **"The Tip-Toe Era"** warns against creeping censorship and moral policing. It mocks the "rubber-heeled politician" and reformers who increasingly restrict entertainment (boxing, horse-racing), censor art and literature, and impose prohibition-era morality. The title suggests people must tiptoe around newfound restrictions on what was once "healthy, natural, exciting" life. **"Citizens!"** sarcastically argues for continued military spending under the guise of peace-building, suggesting post-war anxiety about Germany and disarmament debates. **The cartoon vignettes** mock social hypocrisy: the "Cautious Soul" worries about women's clothing modesty; "He Knew" jokes about giving candy to infants (dark humor); the Irish independence quip plays on stereotypes; the church "free pews" cartoon shows people gambling during services—satirizing churchgoers' actual behavior versus preached morality. The overall tone: Americans are becoming prudish busybodies while simultaneously engaging in vice they publicly condemn.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ES Cautious Soul: EXCUSE ME, SIR, BUT MY WIFE PRECEDED ME HERE, AND BEFORE I ENTEX I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE KORES BUTTON UP THE BACK. Citizens! HE question is, are we getting as much out of this Peace as we ought to? We are likely to be at war at any moment. Do we want to look back on the present with regret? Reflect Are we making as many sacrifices tor Peace as we should? It is true that, according to the latest esti- mates, it is costing us more than war. But is this enough ? we have? Ought we not to give up everything Remember, we must see Peace through. However much we shrink from it, it is up to us to put end to it. The last war left the Hun practically intact to it that in the next one he is put per- manently on his feet? One thing is certain: We shall all he bankrupt unless our armaments are destroyed Ought we not see Only hy another war can this be done. Therefore, let us not neglect all the opportunities for Peace while it is still with us. He Knew OBBIE: Say, mother, when the baby gets one of those yelling fits, why don’t you just give him a big stick of candy to keep him quiet? Morner: Candy! Mercy! On a six-weeks-old baby! Why, it would kill him! “But it didn’t to-day.” HAT will the Irish do when Ire- land is free?” “They'll die of ennui.” The Tip-Toe Era HE Great Tip-Toe Era—is it at the threshold ? Pity that we Americans have come to be alr ashamed of everything that is healthy, natural, excit Are we going to take the ginger out of life and put bror of potassium in its place? Is the time coming when we shall snea tip-toe? Dance only for “educational” or purposes? Smoke tobacco to swell the rake-off which Fund for Dis, to theatre “ charital) ro manufacturers must give to Eskimo Whalers? Horse-racing and boxing are looked at askance. B are censored, and Art wears a fig-leaf from the neck The eye of the political Puritan roves from coast to c: cking out Pleasure \e Tip-Toe Era is coming politician product of the rubber-he “UJHAT'S the idea of free pews?” “Well, it church at : es everyone a chance to stay awa minimum expense.” “ HERE COMES THE PLATE, JOE, I'LL MATCH you”