Life, 1919-09-25 · page 13 of 40
Life — September 25, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on literary censorship and Prohibition era America. **Top cartoon**: Depicts a medieval castle tower scene titled "If There Had Been a Prohibitionist in Those Days," mocking anti-alcohol crusaders by humorously suggesting they would have existed historically. The scene shows figures at a tower gate, likely referencing how prohibition advocates would have interfered with historical drinking customs. **"Formulas" poem**: Sarcastically critiques H₂O (water) promotion as a health solution, implying prohibitionists want to force water consumption instead of alcohol. **"Near Literature Coming?" section**: Discusses how literature and "intoxicants" continue despite restrictions. It notes authors are forming defensive organizations against censorship threats, specifically mentioning anticipated "275-per-cent solutions" from figures like Booth Tarkington and Rupert Hughes. **Bottom cartoon**: A domestic humor panel about marital economy and wedding dress savings.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Formulas OW H20 at school, you know, We learned would make us healthy ; And H. C. L., we all can tell, Soon makes the farmer wealthy If H. C. L. continues—well, We'll all most healthy grow, For we shall be compelled, | trow, To live on H20. Near Literature Coming ? T must be quite evident, even to the most casual observer, that government paternalism is » only in its infancy. It is true iY that most forms of booze are a now openly restricte but literature continues to be on sale. One can still, get mildly inebriated with Herge: heimer, can go under the table with Cham- bers, and have quite a bibulous time with Conrad or Connelly. In literature of to-day there is also plenty of Scotch and Irish, and Christian ence, Mor- mism and New Thought whole series of intoxicants that have shaken loose many respectable families. No Anti-Literary master-mind has yet risen to manipulate politics and get a constitutional amendment passed ROLLER prohibiting the sale of all hooks. But JF THERE HAD BEEN A PROHIBITIONIST IN THOSE DAYS [| __ he is fikely to appear at any moment Possibly it is in anticipation of such literary prohibition that the Authors’ League hes been having friendly ¢ ings with the American Federation of Labor. To throw out of business a big industry like this, just’ when its commercial standards are hecoming fixed, might easily cause an economic crisis. So authors are beginning to form defensive barriers Who Knows but what we 1 have 5-per-cent, solutions of Booth Tark- ington and Rupert Hughes. As for the newspapers and mayazines, by that time Hearst will own them all, so the government will naturally let) them alone. HAT’S that unearthly noise up- stairs?” “Dr. Binks, the painless dentist, has Jack: you're NOT THE LEAST BIT ECONOMICAL! the salesman who sold him that fake Mrs, Jack: THINK NoT, DEAR? WHY, I'VE EVEN SAVED MY WEDDING DRESS oil stock in his chair, and is doing FOR A POSSIBLE SECUND MAKRIAGE! some real drilling.” comicbooks.com