Life, 1919-10-23 · page 11 of 36
Life — October 23, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical pieces: **"Reality" (top):** A poem contrasting childhood dreams with adult reality, illustrated with a Kansas farm scene—suggesting the disappointment of prairie life versus romantic expectations. **"Distance" (middle):** A brief joke where aviators discuss travel to Paris. The "Second Aviator's" response—mentioning "one soviet government, two counter-revolutions and a mandatory straight ahead"—satirizes post-WWI European political instability and the difficulty of travel through war-torn regions. **"Words" (bottom):** A cartoon showing men in top hats (likely politicians or committee members) discussing investigations, mocking bureaucratic committees investigating other committees—reflecting cynicism about government inefficiency. **Lower cartoon:** A social joke about a man's appearance and marriage, typical of *Life's* humor about domestic life and courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
§ Reality N time gone by, my little maid, [Fr dreatsed of airs to be When there would come my own wee lass To bide the while with me. I saw her crown of clustering curls, Somebody's” great brown eyes, Atiny form of fairy graco— All sweet to visualize. (For Fancy’s brush we deftly wield To paint the charms in dreams revealed.) And here you are, you chubby dear, With glistening head of tow A blue-eyed, dimpled, laughing rogue, With ne’er a curl to show. And oft I hold you close—so close— In thankfulness that you, Dear Heart, and not that other child Of my young dreams, are true! (For dreams are only fragile things Like bubbles—or the thrones of kings.) Vara Macbeth Jones. IN KANSAS Farmer: AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A CYCLONE WE JUST CLEAR OUT, AN’ COME BACK WHEN IT’S ALL OVER questions as will enable me to obscure such parts of it as may be clear to you now.” * * © Silence, * * * More silence. * * * And then some. “Ah! Your silence is flattering, indeed. If you will now dispense with shaking my hand, I will bid you adieu, 2s I must save my energy for the speech I am to deliver | to-morrow before the former munition makers on * How to Combat the High Cost of Living.’” Distance ST AVIATOR: How far to Paris? “YES, I'M ON AN INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE, WE'RE IN- VESTIGATING A COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION THAT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE EXPENDITURES OF AN INVESTIGATION COM MITTEE” Words “A ND now,” concluded the Super Orator, as he bowed to the frenzied applause of the Common People, “if I have made any point clear to this intelligent audience I will feel that I have failed of my purpose. However, the greatest of mortals is prone to err, so, in justice to the great issue at stake, I trust that anyone who under- © gicectookix' vee, ANOS HE?” stands what the League of Nations really is will ask such “wor! HIM NICE-LOOKIN'’! WHY, He's MARRIED!" comicbooks.com