Life, 1919-07-24 · page 38 of 40
Life — July 24, 1919 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several unrelated items typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"Fact and Fiction"** presents a satirical parallel: an irritable newspaper editor tyrannizes his cook at home, then his young author at the office, demanding practical results over artistic merit. Both subordinates respond with meek compliance. The satire critiques authoritarian bosses who lack self-awareness—the editor fails to recognize his own unreasonable behavior mirrors across contexts. **"A Narrow Escape"** satirizes Congress itself through mock-legislative drama. A proposed amendment banning all "frivolous and useless" activities nearly passes until a congressman realizes it would prohibit Congress itself—"it would do away with us!" The humor attacks congressional self-importance and uselessness. The remaining content is advertising (diamonds, cigarettes, ginger ale) and filler pieces ("A New Method," "Demosthenes"). The cartoons use visual irony: the editor "shaking hands with a man who expects a touch" depicts the awkward moment when someone anticipates a loan request.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
174 “LIFE: rd D) | AMONDS wc: DIRECT From JASON WEILER & SONS, Boston, Mass. One of America’s leading diamond importers and save 20 to 40 per cent. onretail or jewelers’ prices pistiname teh Peltupiicated elarwbere tor tees aan $160.00. Out price $298.00 | desired, ing willbe eat 0.. pb. / ‘ eget ex: porchase WRITE TODAY FOR THIS ta VALUABLE BOOK ON HOW To Bi DIAMONDS Thiscctalog ibe Jason Weiler & Sons 371 Washington Street, Boston, Mass. Diamond Importers since 1876 Foreign Agencies: Paris, London and Amsterdam SHAKING HANDS WITH A MAN WHO EXPECTS A TOUCH Herbert a yton London Cigarettes Herbert Tareyton London Smoking Mixture | mple upon request Falk Tobacco Co. Inc., 1786 Broadway, New York | Fact and Fiction HE editor at the breakiast-table, Irritable and overbearing. His wife opposite, nervous and wor- ried. He tastes his coffee and pushes it aside. “This whole breakfast is kennel- food!" he ejaculates. “ Dearest,” his wife answers meekly, “Tl discharge the cook and find some- one else. T want nothing more in this world Than to have you satisfied.” “No sentimental rot! That doesn’t go down. What I want is a decently run house.” The editor at the office Irritable and overbearing. The young author opposite, nervous and worried. He glances at the manuscript and pushes it aside. “This whole idea is bunk!” he said. “Sir,” the young author answers meekly, “T'll throw it away and write another. I want you to be satisfied. That is my ambition.” “Ne ealistic, morbid theories, then. They don't go down. What I want is love stories with a happy ending!” Jeannette Phillips Gibbs, A Narrow Escape HE Twenty-first Amendment, in- troduced by the gentleman from the newly created state of West Texas, was received with enthusiasm by the members of the Seventieth Con- gress. Its import was, in brief: “ That all activities or organizations which are of an entirely frivolous and useless nature, or which are of no actual bene- fit to the well-being and progress of this country, shall be prohibited hence- forth and forever within the bound- aries of these United States and their possessions. This prohibition shall be carried out and enforced by due proc- ess of law.” The proposed Amendment was greeted with wild acclaim. Enthusi- astic speeches were made in its favor, and it seemed certain that, when put to a vote, it would pass by an overwhelm- ing majority. At the last moment the gentleman from New Comstock, for- merly Southern California, was seen to be making frantic efforts to secure the floor. When finally recognized by the Chair, he was so overcome with emotion that he could not speak for a moment “Gentlemen!” he gasped. “ Gentle- men! You do not, you can not, realize what you are about to do! This Amendment, if passed, would auto- PETER T. CAREY, PRINTER xX ar Ye Cate of Sain! L ‘fe Conwenient lo Cheatres ari D Shy Sa oa ow eS matically prohibit Congress. It wou do away with us!" As the Amendment was hast struck from the records there was universal gasp of horror throughes the legislative halls as the membey realized what a terrible fate they ts so narrowly escaped. A New Method ERCHANT: They say you a very successful with old bills seldom have to dun them twice. Whit the secret? Bap-Bitt Coutector: 1 am aff with insomnia and do my coll nights. EMOSTHENES was learning haf to be an orator by standing the seashore and clocuting against t noise of the The gist of Ef CANTRELL & COCHRANE THE STANDARD Ginger Ale OF TWO CONTINENTS Order by the dozen for use at home comicbooks.c@nms