Life, 1919-07-03 · page 42 of 52
Life — July 3, 1919 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains **Prohibition-era satire** from approximately the 1920s. The cartoon titled "When the Next Prohibition Amendment Is Added to the Constitution" depicts two asylum inmates—one representing alcoholism, the other representing Prohibition enforcement—as equally insane. This is cutting satire: the joke argues that *both* excessive drinking and zealous Prohibition advocacy are forms of madness worthy of institutionalization. The biographical poem about **Josephus Daniels** (Secretary of the Navy under Wilson) mocks his simultaneous roles as editor and naval administrator, suggesting he's unqualified. The "William Jennings Bryan Smirk" reference implies self-righteous moralism—Bryan was a famous Prohibition advocate. Together, these pieces satirize **Prohibition itself as absurd policy**, treating its supporters and the alcoholism it supposedly addressed as equally ridiculous social problems. The tone reflects Life magazine's sophisticated, skeptical stance toward Prohibition during its enforcement (1920-1933).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
iolets Delicately Seented~ Sold Tipe 25 fr 1D Box De Luxe of 100~$250 ‘your dealer eannot suppl write Boe MV-1790 Broadway, lew Yorks WHEN IME NEXT PROMIBITION AMENDMENT 18 ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION Che Biograph JOSEPHUS DANIELS HE State without Josephus Daniels Were like a Dogshow lacking Spaniels, A Grove that has no Lovers’ Lane, Or “Hamlet” played without the Dane. He occupied the Proud Position Of Editor and Politician, Which, Everybody knows, equips A Man for Bossing Battleships. He knew as much about a As any Guinea-Pig or Ca He wore a Too-benignant Grin, And had a Trick of Butting In. Yet, putting on the Softer Pedal, They somehow taught him Not to Meddle; And, like a really Good Old Scout, He learned the Trick of Butting Out. So now he runs his Office Forces And lets the Navy steer its Courses ; And we could love him—if he'd burke That William Jennings Bryan Smirk! Arthur Guiterman, Where Parallel Lines Meet HERE were two new arrivals in the psychopathic ward that day. They sat a little apart from the others ina corner. Both were in strait-jackets. They eyed one another furtively—a curious psychic tu of fellowship drawing their souls together. One was wall-faced, The other was fat and florid. “What are you here for?” finally asked the wall-faced one. -“I'm an alcoholic nut,” said the other. “ And what are you here for?” “I'm a Prohibition nut,” replied Wall-Face. comicbooks.