Life, 1919-04-17 · page 9 of 46
Life — April 17, 1919 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"The Scribbler" (top illustration)**: A street scene showing a woman distributing what appears to be pamphlets or papers to a gathered crowd in an urban setting. The exact message is unclear, but the image satirizes public activism or propaganda distribution. **"Romance" (text section)**: A sentimental narrative about a lowly clerk with romantic fantasies of marrying a beautiful heiress—a commentary on class aspiration and daydreaming disconnected from reality. **"Marshal Flea" (bottom cartoon)**: A military dog with tactical diagram, satirizing military strategy and bureaucratic language through absurdist animal humor. The page reflects early-20th-century Life magazine's blend of social commentary, romantic satire, and humorous illustrations targeting middle-class anxieties about class mobility and wartime concerns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SCARLET LETTEE Romance E was just an ordinary clerk, living alone in a cheap rooming-house. up three flights of stairs. But, like the 7 rest of us, he had his dreams and air- castles, and an imaginary romance that had nothing to do with the facts of everyday existence. Some day he would marry an heiress . beautiful. desired by any. It would be love at first sight, and he would carry ler off from her circle of other admirers, like Lochinvar told. She would have great dark eyes, a smile like the slow of morning, gowns like the models in the modiste’s shop on Fifth Avenue, and a manner born to a queen. Each morning he would go to his humble work, dreaming these dreams and hoping that to-day would be the day! And he never noticed the plain, quiet little housemaid who stood at the door as he passed out « and watched him, love in her eyes, the wistfulness of motherhood in her face, and an unsung lullaby upon her lips. IVORC according to statistics, are increasing twice as fast as marriages. It is therefore only a question of time when there will be twice as many divorces as mar- riages. RAWEFORD: Only a while ago that old friend of yours said he'd be satisfied if he could live long enough to see the Allies win the war. Cransnaw: Now he’s hoping to survive to see the Ger- mans pay the indemnity. Marshal Flea: THE FIFTH ARMY WILL OCCUPY THE LINE FROM THE LEFT EAR RUNNING SOUTH OVER BHE SHOULDER> BLADE AND SOUTHEAST TO THE SECOND LUMBAR VERTEBRAE, comicbooks.com