Life, 1920-02-19 · page 15 of 48
Life — February 19, 1920 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a man at a desk speaking with another man standing beside him. The seated man appears disheveled and troubled, while two signs visible in the background read "Buy your Pills fore they go up" and "Go to old Doc Swayz." The caption quotes the standing man asking about the seated man's condition, with the seated man responding that he sleeps well and feels good generally, but becomes "all a-tremble" when he gets work. This satirizes the anxiety and stress of employment during uncertain economic times (likely the 1920s-30s), suggesting that even having a job causes nervous distress. The signs advertising pills and doctors reinforce the theme of widespread anxiety about economic instability and health concerns during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“1 DUNNO, BOC, He Really Enjoyed It N these decadent days there are too few men who really show any zest in their work. We confess to a hanker- ng for the chap who frankly enjoys lus profession, even if it is only that mattress tester in a feather-bed fac- tory. That's why we have been enjoy- : the lively reminiscences of Al Jen- NURSIE 1 EATS WELL, ‘LEPFE* Buy yeur Pills fore they ge up S TO BE THE MATTER WITH Yo’, Mosr?" LEEPS WELL, 1 GETS A JOB OF WORK, nings, train-robber and statesman. Al's story has been running in the papers as a biographical sketch of O. Henry, who first encouraged him to do a little cracksmanship on the English lan- guage. But, as far as we have gone, O. Henry plays little part. The thing we like is the zest that friend Al shows in describing his train-robberies. He says: I fired in the air. They ducked The fun was getting hot and furious. I was as happy as a drunkard. And then the engine began to heave, and the train pulled out. I was afraid of nothing. I wanted to run after it and kick it good-by. I felt like bellowing. I wanted everyone to know I had stuck up a train and done it wonderfully. Now, what we want to know is, why is it that so few of us get that same spunk and pep in the legitimate con- cerns of life? Even Henry Ford, dear saint that he is, seems to get only a ‘D 1 FEELS PRETTY GOOD GENER'LY ; "SE ALL A-TREMBLE.” BUT WHEN very mild and lukewarm lust out of making flivvers. Is it that man’s in- most heart only warms up to crime? Or is it, by any chance, that Al Jen- nings is looking forward to the possi- bility of this government ownership of railroads we hear about, when train-robbing would once more become easy and safe and profitable? A Mystery ED: On account of the newsprint shortage, the size of the Chicago papers is going to be reduced. Nev: In that case, how in the world will they be able to report all the hold- ups and murders? “WES, sir, I tell you that an actor gets paid according as he can amuse the public.” “Nonsense. Does Bryan make more than Charlie Chaplin?” comicbooks.com