Life, 1919-04-10 · page 36 of 46
Life — April 10, 1919 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon—"Rubberset Brushes":** This advertisement disguises itself as a unsolicited testimonial letter from a Canadian soldier (Royal D. Tracy) praising rubber brushes for trench warfare. The satire plays on post-WWI marketing: companies exploited soldier credibility to sell mundane products. The letter's dramatic framing—wounded soldiers, combat conditions—inflates brush utility absurdly. A footer notes these are "NOT WRITTEN BY OUR ADVERTISING MAN," which itself is satirical commentary on fake endorsements. **"Stern Necessity Moved Him" Story:** This brief comic sketch satirizes post-war vanity and trophy-collecting. A general's wife discovers her clothes removed from hotel trunks. His explanation: he needed space for military decorations from Allied governments. The humor mocks how war heroes prioritized medals and glory over domestic practicality—a gentle jab at masculine pomposity and the exaggerated self-importance of victorious officers returning home. **Context:** This reflects 1920s American attitudes toward WWI veterans and commercialized patriotism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
"The Brightest, Dest Ma, TaSboyetaetes weg e Ye reading hungry, Make sy war boy getsisright; the kingbeiine nq Int "1 f ROWING encrel y aTe ae af 4 Pbetp hiss develop into spiesda ws The American Boy will give him clean, absorbirg exp Inconvenience’to Folks alte Aerinen Rep wil pice hin, daa. se and practical inspiration to think and act . vigorously. Like. These BR: = cf More than $09,000 splendid normal Ameri- : ’ q can boyslook for The America Boy eagerly each month. Let your boy kaow this pleasure, too. £2.00 @ year—t00 a copy on newestands, THE SPRAGUE PUBLISHING CO. LIFE’S Confidential Resort Guid Or, Where Are You Going Next Summer? Nore—When settling the vexed q tion of the annual vacation, took befor you leap—but be sure you le Don't be thirsty. Be 1 your patriotism literally carr Since there's no place like | some of the other places Try ‘em before the governmen stop to that, too The following advertisers arc known to Lire, and whatever statemes they may make are vouched fc COME TO FRAN Sunshine Unsurpassed, Roses Unnivalled Constitution Unames Climate Mild, Healthful, Invigor Wines Mild (See list), F “Land of the Pilgrims’ (You said it—We've SWEET LAND OF LIBE! You've Guessed It " ¥ RUSSIA pee Si ry. The Land that Canned a Czar to G aN x .; VODKA : ‘ ea | (Better Than Ever) “se fined aia % Can, di D. Suey | Visitors Welcome AML Cox |) ADS ——NOT WRITTEN re Arti ; at L } BY OUR ADVERTISING MAN’ I All Hours Mike t Come axp Drive Dutt Cos (Regular Semi-Weekly Pogroms, sacres and Revolutions in the Open Rain or Shine, Under the Personal D rection of Messrs. Lenine and Trott tefreshments. SANiEe PAINT Refreshments.) HAIR VARNISH OBEY THAT IMPULSE! TOOTH STUCCO ITALY Cordially Invites Her Many Fr America to Seck Surcease fro Stern Necessity Moved Him bad ORRORS! What has happened?” H The world-war was over. The wife of the great American general, who had fought so nobly for the cause of democracy, had joined him in Paris previous to his de- parture for the United States, She had just entered their rooms in the hotel, and now stood gazing in despair at the scene of devastation about her. For her clothes had been removed from her seven trunks and lay scattered. broadcast. “What has happened?” she repeated hysterically. “Why, oh, why have you dared to remove my things?” “There was no help for it, my dear,” replied her husband. “I regret it exceedingly. But I had to make room for all of the decorations presented to me by the Allied govern- ments.”