Life, 1919-05-15 · page 22 of 50
Life — May 15, 1919 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the U.S. Government through mock "testimonials" praising fictional self-improvement courses. The humor hinges on ironic reversals: readers claim the Government's courses in "Rules and Regulations" for behavior, anger management, and memory have transformed their lives—but the implied joke is that Government *actually* governs citizens constantly without their consent, controls their emotions through policy, and citizens remain under Government surveillance. The cartoon depicts a rotund hippopotamus (representing someone of wealth or status) summoning friends for ice cream—a commentary on indulgence and frivolity, likely mocking the idle rich or corrupt officials. The bottom illustration, labeled "Somewhere in France," shows a WWI-era scene where language barriers matter less than physical actions—suggesting military effectiveness transcends communication problems, or commenting on the absurdity of war itself. The overall page ridicules Government paternalism through exaggerated praise, a common Life magazine technique during the Progressive Era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
to your Course in Rules and Re tions for Eating, Sleeping, Thinkir Breathing, ete, I never forget for single instant, day or night, constantly being governed. Yours, with a perfect memory Evrt Many Deak Govern MENT: 3 have been unable to sleep. Kecet I started reading a small percent your daily publications on all topics under the sun, and they* to sleep every night now, Very gratefully, AL Taxrayes Drak GoverNMent: Your course the restraint of anger has done me world of good. Some time ago I | came very angry at a friend, and wr him an execedingly nasty note. | etted having sent the no hoped my friend would never rece it. That seemed impossible, howeve The other day my friend died, ks after 1 had written the not i lay I was informed by r wees ) » jriend’s widow that your al ser 1 just delivered my note. ‘Than! It has taught me here- “Or YOU'LL SIT THERE A MOMENT, MISS HIPPO, LL GET SOME OF MY FRIENDS control my anger. Yours, Iuretvous Iexatz TO HELP ME 70 BRING YOU SO\tE ICE CREAM" Puzzle HAT irony that he whose pen Is eloquent st Must glean from other men The valor for his sony— While who has v eds to sing Should, through the te Which makes burl everything Be inarticulate! Ruth Lambert Jones, Little Testimonials AR GOVERNM i Be trying your Income Tax Anti-Fat Remedy 1 was suffering with such an excessive enlargement of the waist- hand as to cause annoying comment. One treatment of your remedy, and I have not only lost all tendency to- ward adipose, but now T actually curve in where I used to be fat. Yours thankfully, A. PockeTROOK, Dear Ge ment: Your Memory Course is a wonderful thing. I used to be subject to lapses of memory when I forgot entirely you were brood- SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE ing over me. Now, however, thanks “1 COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HIS TALK, HUT HIS ACTIONS WERE SO EXPRESSIVE” comicbooks.com