Life, 1919-04-17 · page 19 of 46
Life — April 17, 1919 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Letters" Essay**: A humorous column contrasting the writer's hatred of *writing* letters (messy paper, forgotten thoughts, awkward phrasing) with their love of *receiving* them (the thrill of mail call, envelope textures, postmarks). It's relatable domestic satire about the letter-writing experience. **"The Holy Terror" Cartoon**: References Father Coughlin (a controversial radio priest of the 1930s-40s known for inflammatory rhetoric). The joke mocks exaggerated claims about his activism—ladies gossip that he carried both a prayer-book and bomb, then one claims he had bombs in *both* hands. It satirizes how public figures' reputations become distorted through rumor and hearsay. **"Straphangers' Dance"**: A final sketch showing six men in absurd, contorted poses holding onto overhead subway rails. It's titled as a "suggestion" for a musical number—visual comedy about the ungainly postures commuters adopt on crowded trains. All three pieces use gentle, observational humor about everyday American life and public figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
l Letters {ATE writing letters. I hate the paper and the spluttery n-pen or dull, slippery, snub- pencil © the things they make me say the things they let me forget to te the beautiful sentences and ded periods that. slip away and dive into mist when T try to write 1 down. ute the choppy sentences and mis- sten English that I really do put hate the misunderstandings and © impressions my letters cause. hat the the 3 and nether and other parts of the the date, dress, the body and all up- superscrip- hate the feeling of stupidity and in- ce that cor e | see a piece of writing-paper. hate knowing that I should have ipet er me every tien the letter long ago hate writing letters. But above all myself for hating to write NI | love the anticipa to get letters. ory thrill when ugle blows mail-call even the when he love sergeant > off my name. | love the feel of the letter before it ned—the stamp—the postmark— the blurry marks made by the love tea the ing envelope open at one end. THE HOLY TERROR THEY SAY FATHER HOOLEY ADVANCED PEAVER-BOOK IN ONE HAND AND A BOMB IN THE OTHER MAWAYS THRYEN 1" “Wy, NOLADY Lady: TO THE ATTACK WITH A “THEY'R! BELITTLE \ Goo MAN, MUM." Isn't iT TREE?” HE HAD bOMBS IN GOTH HANDS.” visions and dreams that I love the slanting Hines and the in- are invoked by the letter. I love all the litt I love the hetween lines clippings a I love the heginning and the end and the whole in-hetweens of the letter etters and notices that the letter. ne dropping I love gettir above all —I love the letters. I love the lack of date u the SUGGEST:ON FOR ONE OF THE MUSICAL SHOWS STRAPHANGERS’ DANCE comicbooks.com