Life, 1919-05-15 · page 18 of 50
Life — May 15, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (circa 1919) contains multiple satirical pieces commenting on post-WWI American politics and society. **"Responsibility" (top):** A moral poem by Arthur Guiterman about a Fool who ignores warning signs and a Sage who follows him despite knowing better. Both face justice equally—the Fool for his recklessness, the Sage for his cowardice. The accompanying list suggests this satirizes contemporary follies: the League of Nations debate, Prohibition, Bolshevism fears, and the Wilson administration (Secretary Baker, Postmaster General Burleson). **"Lawyers" section:** Critiques the legal profession, arguing poor lawyers who *make* laws should be replaced by good ones, eliminating the need for expensive lawyers to *interpret* them. **Bottom cartoons:** One shows a driver asking directions ("Green Golfer about to drive over bunker"), the other ("Fair Samaritan") features a reference to Postmaster General Burleson potentially resigning to join the Peace Conference delegation—with skepticism that this would actually expedite peace negotiations. The page's theme: governmental incompetence and the folly of those following incompetent leaders.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
846 Responsibility A FOOL there was, aS; there, Who, as they journeyed, grave and gay, Beheld the sign, “No Thoroughfare! '" Tread not this Interdicted Way! That path the Fool would still pursue, For all the Sage’s warning groan; Yet, close behind, the Sage came, too, Because he feared to walk alone. When both were seized and haled be- fore The Court, the Fool in noisy pride Spake Folly; while the Wise Man swore That Guile had drawn his feet aside. But Justice wrote upon her page That both should mourn her broken rule The Fool, because he scorned the Sage; The Sage, for following a Fool! Arthur Guiterman, “Follies of 1919” Te League of Nations project. National Prohibition. Bolshevism, Burleson, The Sixty-fifth Congress. Secretary Baker. Getting an alleged meal in a diner. Herron Our joy-riding government. Green Golfer (about to drive over bunker): rore! Lawyers T ERE are two kinds of lawyers, good ones and | ones. The poor ones make the laws; the good © tell us what they mean. The poorer the lawyers who m the laws, the more we have to pay those who explain ther If the good lawyers could only be given enough in ment to make our laws, then even poor lawyers cot terpret them. This would be much better for us wouldn't cost any more. We'd pay our good lawyers much for making our laws as we now pay them for « plaining them, and we'd pay our poor lawyers no more for explaining the laws than we now pay them for making ther The net gain would be better laws and fewer of them Why Worry? Fair Samaritan: WAVE WE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION YET? RIGGS: If Burleson should resign his job, he might Sergeant Casey: FIVE MILES BACK, MA'AM. BUT KEEP RIGHT do good work as a delegate to the Peace Confere ON GOIN’, 1 COULD RIDE ALL THE WAY TO RERLIN WITH YE. Griccs: But isn’t peace being delayed enough as it comicbooks.com 4 PN Se ee 3