Life, 1919-05-29 · page 7 of 42
Life — May 29, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the dispersal of government officials during the early 1919 period. A "distinguished stranger" visits the Capitol seeking various cabinet members and officials, only to discover they're all absent—attending conventions, sewing bees in Korea, touring government rivers, or otherwise scattered. The repeated refrain becomes "Nobody home." The satire criticizes the post-WWI government for being unfocused and unavailable for serious work. The bottom illustration titled "Tact" depicts a domestic scene, likely contrasting peaceful civilian life with governmental chaos. The humor targets early 1919 political dysfunction—a period when the government's attention was fragmented among various international and domestic commitments, leaving the Capitol effectively unstaffed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
carly morning in the Capitol of the greatest autocracy in. the rd. The rentially distinguished the clerk of stranger addressed the works “Is the President in? “No, sir. He's addressing the labor clegates of Manchuria.” ‘an [ see the Secretary of State?” “Touring the Andes in a govern- ment-owned flivver.” “Nobody Home’’ “Perchance I with the Secretary “He's convention in Upper Liberia “Oh, well, pass m Secretary of the Navy. “Organizing a malted-milk sewing may have ¢ of War?” attending a Su card in to the bee in Korea.” “Any other member of the Cabinet will do. J will even see a senator or a congressman.” “All scattered. Nobody home.” The himself in terrogation. “Excuse me, sir.” he said distinguished stranger worked another angle of acute in- “Did I you say that there was nobody “And that reminds me.” “Of what, sir?” “Just an ech ‘Nobody home. of the early spring of the year 1910." a fleeting phrase— It reminds me, sir, WHY THE SURVEYOR DECIDED NOT TO RUN THE RAILROAD THKOUGH GRANDMA'S OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN