Life, 1919-05-29 · page 34 of 42
Life — May 29, 1919 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a satirical short story titled "Dispassionate" mocking immigrant workers and their perceived linguistic/cultural incompetence. The joke: Sven, a Swedish laborer with a thick accent, complains his job is too much work for one man. His boss sends John to help, but John falls into the saw and dies ("went down be'ween two logs"). Sven's response suggests he doesn't understand the tragedy or John's absence—the humor relies on ethnic stereotyping and dialect mockery common to early 20th-century American satire. The accompanying political cartoon labeled "Politic" satirizes government investigations, suggesting Senator Sorghum launches sensational probes not to solve problems but to distract the public from other unfinished investigations—a commentary on political theater and avoidance of accountability. Both pieces exemplify *Life* magazine's satirical approach: poking fun at contemporary social issues through exaggerated character types and political criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Dispassionate Sven had been nursing logs down the chute to the buzz saw for several hours when the boss came along. “This bane too much vark for one .” Sven told him. All right,” said the boss, “Tl send John down to help you.” An hour passed and the boss came past a . Sven made the same com- plaint : “This bane too much vark for onc man, “But L sent John down to help you. Where is he?" “Yohn, he ain't bane here some time He vent down be'ween two logs. I tank he quit his job."—N. ¥. Globe. Reliable Garage Service T will save you money on the road toknow where reliable storage and repair ser can be found. Only garages that have t carefully investigated are recommended in THE AUTOMOBILE 3. BLUE BOOK & The Standard Road Guide of America Just one overcharge in som we you know nothing about may cost you many times the price of the Blue Book. Drop in at the next book store, supply store. garage or news stand and examine a copy. Price $1.00, or sent postpaid on receipt of $415 by the publishers The Automobile Blue Book ta Publishing Company New York Chicago San Francisco “What's the idea of starting this new sensational investigation ? ” “Well,” replied Senator Sorghum, “it seems necessary to do something to take people's minds off a lot of other inves tigations that there doesn’t seem to be any way to finish."—Weshington Star. Neate EGYPTIAN DEITIES “The Utmost in Cigarettes" Plain End or Cork Tip People of culture and refinement invariably REFER Derties to any other cigarette ¢ suv fave MIN Pinch, use ALLEN’S FOOT-EASE. The Passing Throng Youse Wire (in the country): This is a nice place you've brought me to We've been here for four months and | haven't seen a new face! Me ‘o new face! Why. my dear. 1 our help eight times Boston Transcript. Mexico Says She Doesn't Recognize Monroe Doctrine.” There have been es when Monroe himself wouldn't pave recognized it—N. HE famous lost fable of Aesop has been found. Here it is: A rich man wished to decide to which of his three sous he should will his fortune. In turn they were bronght to a table which were a bag of gold, a bottle ine aud a folded parchment. The n chose the gold, the next the wwine, the third the parchment. To the fast the man left his property, saying, Vy first son will be a@ spendthrift, my second a drunkard, but my third is wise enough to become a regular, an- ual subscriber to Lire. Morar: Wis- dom is better than wealth or pleasure. le Catee of Seaal Life || Convenient Lo Chealres ard Sheps —=] (THE BILTMORE ; RN NEW _YORK __ Y SS comicbooks.com