Life, 1919-07-03 · page 18 of 52
Life — July 3, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains satirical commentary on post-WWI America: **Top cartoon**: A wife greets her returning soldier husband, joking that kissing has been "prohibited" during his absence—a humorous domestic jab at how long he's been away. **"Loyalty!" section**: Mocks Mayor Hylan of New York's traffic safety efforts. The joke suggests Hylan wants to reduce pedestrian deaths from cars to increase circulation of William Randolph Hearst's newspapers—implying the mayor is a Hearst puppet. **"Post-Bellum Plutocrats"**: Dark satire on Black soldiers returning home. The exchange suggests wealthy industrialists are "solving" racial tensions by funneling Black veterans into low-status Pullman porter jobs, where they'll be too economically dependent to criticize the government or demand back pay. It's biting social commentary on the failure to integrate or fairly compensate Black soldiers after WWI. **"No Referendum Needed"**: Lists seven amendments to life's "constitutional grouch"—essentially seven simple things that make life worth living. The "Independence Day" cartoons (1776/1919) appear to contrast historical and contemporary American ideals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THEY'VE PROHIBITED KISSING SINCE YOU'VE BEEN AWAY? Wife (to returning hero): on, My vEAR! and someone constantly on hand to Loyalty ! Post-Bellum. Plutocrats snuggle up to. As a stimulant fo ano« ERE'S Mayor Hylan of New OBBLE: 1 see that quite a num- oratorical temperament, he preferred York trying to reduce the num- ber of the returned negro soldiers milk in almost any form, so long as her of pedestrians injured or killed by have become Pullman porters the supply was constant i; motor cars Stone: That will reduce the num- And this puppy was right. He was “Indeed?” ber of government critics a great deal more right than most “Yes. He probably wants to help “How so?” human beings: all he can to keep up the circulation of “Why, they won't care now whether He demanded everything in sight to the Hearst papers.” they get any back pay or not.” keep him in food and comfort. He took it all for granted. But in return — 1 = for this he gave his love to all, un- stinted, in full measure running over, and to this love he added his undying loyalty No Referendum Needed ERE are seven amendments to your constitutional grouch : Love. Nature. . Books. Music Wine. Golf. 1776 1919 Laughter, INDEPENDENCE DAY comicbooks.