Life, 1919-08-21 · page 28 of 40
Life — August 21, 1919 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI European financial desperation. The main story depicts a European couple (likely French or Belgian, given references to war damage) discussing their ruined finances. Unable to mortgage land or borrow from private pawnbrokers, the husband proposes pawning "crown jewels" to "Uncle Sam"—the United States government—expecting America to be naive enough not to notice the jewels are fake paste. The satire targets American generosity toward war-devastated Europe and suggests European nations view U.S. aid as an opportunity for deception. The phrase "gullible old chap" reinforces the stereotype of America as wealthy but unsophisticated. The beach comics below are unrelated domestic humor about romantic misunderstandings. The overall message: Europe, financially desperate after WWI, assumes it can trick America into funding reconstruction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Last Hope UROPE housekeeping. “What shall we do with the furni- ture?” asked his wife anxiously. “Oh, we'll put that in storage,” he was about to break up replied, “It's pretty badly smashed, anyhow, so they can't damage it much more.” “You don't think you could ri mortgage on the land?” she inquire AND THEY THOUGHT NoBobY KNEW He smiled mockingly. “Who would take a risk like that? It's useless to try.” “How about the she ventured. “ You've been there a good many times already, it's true, but—” “What pawnbroker? " he interrupted “There's only one—Uncle Sam.” He thought a moment. “That's a good idea. pawnbroker’s ? Vt try him this time with the crown jewels. He's a gullible old ch Perhaps he'll never notice that they're paste. At all events, it will be an open covenant openly ar- rived a ADGE: So you think it isn’t just a flirtation. Marjorie: I'm sure of it. They didn’t even get out of the hammock when the dinner bell rang. “IHAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU, EDITH” “NEVER MIND, I DON'T WISH TO HEAR ANOTHER WoRD” XUM comicbooks.com!