Life, 1920-02-05 · page 45 of 52
Life — February 5, 1920 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon (Upper Left):** An angel figure holds wings, saying "By the way, I'd like to turn in these wings and get a 1920 model." This is a satirical commentary on the era's obsession with modern technology and consumer goods—even in heaven, one wants the latest model. It reflects 1920s American materialism and the cult of "newness." **"Probes" Column (Left):** This satirizes government investigation committees formed after scandals or disasters. Life mocks how these "Probes" start with grand promises ("We shall spare no one"), descend deeper through layers of committees, then ultimately disappear into obscurity at the bottom of newspaper pages—never actually reaching the "Men Higher Up" responsible. It's political satire about institutional ineffectiveness and how investigations protect the powerful. **Right Side:** The majority of the page is a **Pepsodent toothpaste advertisement**, not editorial content. This was common in Life magazine—advertisements occupied substantial space.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
oom Ley “pa—bY THE WAY, I'D LIKE TO TURN IN THESE WINGS AND GET A 1920 MODEL” Probes PROBE is something in the Head- lines of a Newspaper, and usually makes its Appearance immediately after some Disaster, or what are called Dis- graceful Proceedings. By Calamity, dam Nonsense, the racing charts would say. A Co; ttee of Investigation is the Probe’s Next of Kin. Wil Start Probe, shouts the paper, “We shall spare No One,” says the Hon. Joo. W. Doolittle, Chairman of the May- or's Committee, Probe Will Go Deep, hollers the front . “This is not a Whitewashing Job,” jeorge Washington Monroe, Chair- he Citizens’ Committee, which is acting with the Mayor's Committee. Probe Will Be Thorough, screams the poor thing, endeavoring to make itself heard from the Second Page. “ This matter will be sifted to the very bottom,” says the Rev, Dr. Nodding, Chairman of the Committee of Pastors, appointed to Investigate and Fix the Responsibility. “We {cel that a great wrong has been done here hose who are guilty must answer for it.” A Suspicion points to Men Higher and Higher Up, the Committees go Deeper and Decper with the Probe, and Sift Further and Further toward the Bottom. Probe Still, On, remarks a Fourth Page Iicading, demurely. “ We'll get to the Bottom of this Thing, you Bet,” says Co nmitteeman Job C. Kerr, who, su far, ba! been Unable to get-his Name printed. “Somebody has got to Suffer for TI You'll see. There are still a Few Ke- Blooded Americans Left.” Next day poor old Probe is on the Page, half way Down, so mixed up with Adver.,ing that One hardly Notes its Murm The Sifters are Nearly at the Bottom: now, and the Probe is at the Bot- tom, tco—of the Column, Committee's Report, whispers a small Paragraph-heading on the last Page. Charges proven to be without foundation, Which shows they did get to the Bottom, and beyond, but they Never got to the Men Higher Up. Note how clean the teeth feel after Pee ETE: ° Prettier Teeth Safer Teeth—Without a Film All Statements Approved by High Dental Authorities It Is Film That Mars and Ruins It is known today that the cause of most tooth troubles is a slimy film. You can feel it with your tongue. That film is what discolors—not the teeth. It is the basis of tartar. It holds food substance which fer- ments and forms acid. It holds the acid in contact with the teeth to cause decay. Millions of germs breed in it. They, with tartar, are the chief cause of pyorrhea. The film is clinging. It enters crevices and stays. The tooth brush does not end it. The ordinary tooth paste does not dissolve it. So mil- lions find that well-brushed teeth discolor and decay. Dental science, after years of searching, has found a film combat- ant. Its efficiency has been amply proved by clinical and laboratory tests. Able authorities approve it and leading dentists all over Amer- ica are now urging its adoption. A Free Test to Every Home This new method is embodied in a dentifrice called Pepsodent. And a 10-Day Tube is sent to everyone who wishes to prove its efficiency. Pepsodent is based on pepsin, the digestant of albumin. The film is albuminous matter. The object of Pepsodent is to dissolve it, then to day by day combat it. But pepsin must be activated, and the usual agent is an acid harmful totheteeth. So pepsin long seemed impossible. But science has discov- ered a harmless activating method. And millions of teeth are now being daily brushed with this active pepsin. We urge you to see the results. They are quick and apparent. A ten-day test will be a revelation. Send the coupon for the test tube. Compare the results with old meth- ods, and you will soon know what is best. Cut out the coupon so you won't forget, for this is important to you, Pepsaodéent REG.U.S. The New-Day Dentifrice Now Advised by Leading Dentists Everywhere Ten Days Will Tell using Pepsodent. Mark the absence of the slimy film. See how the teeth whiten as the fixed film disappears. You will then know whatclean teeth mean, 1 1 1 i] t t { 1 i 1 1 1 ' Ten-Day Tube Free THE PEPSODENT COMPANY, Dept. 50, 1104S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. Mail 10-Day Tube of Pepsodent to Name. meter ren nn nn re rn penne ene noo - - - - -- - --- --- 25 Address comicbooks.com