Life, 1920-03-04 · page 54 of 78
Life — March 4, 1920 — page 54: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: **"A Congressman Proposes"** mocks politicians' self-interested courtship of voters. A congressman claims to seek a mandate for his political scheme but frames it as a marriage proposal, revealing how politicians manipulate public sentiment with flattery and appeals to "patriotic duty." **"Forced Inheritance"** recounts a Scottish soldier's darkly humorous account of obtaining a German soldier's watch during WWI's Battle of Passchendaele. The joke: after the German refused three times, the Scot "simply inherited it"—a euphemism for killing him. The story plays on period attitudes toward wartime violence. **"The White Man's Burden"** satirizes milk price-gouging. Two milkmen discuss raising prices, with the second noting he "can hardly wait" for the next official investigation—implying collusion or that investigations accomplish nothing. The bottom cartoon shows a bear family forgotten by their milkman, suggesting supply-chain absurdities. All three pieces reflect post-WWI American cynicism toward politicians, wartime ethics, and corporate regulation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
416 A Congressman Proposes AIR Tnogene, 1 feign would: speak Upon a faver wl In this. our pr TH need two min May I, my darling It's qust like this Needs son With we A wife, who'll pat him on the buck And tell him he's 4 crackerjuck! Oh, Lnegene, ‘ts sad indeed. When tap But, since the scheme [ I seek a mandate—on—your heart! And though the world at large admic That you're « stunni You ought to marry m Your patriotic duty! And so, with fervor unconcealed. I whisper, darling, won't you—yield Oliver B. Capelte Forced Inheritance D JRING the battle of Paschendaele a seriously wounded Gordon High- lander was brought into one of the Canadian dressing stations. The sur- geon noticed he was wearing a fine gold wrist watch, “Where did you get that, Scotty?” he asked. Scotty merely smiled at the time, but, on being told that the chances were against him, he later confided the story to the doctor. “T took a Heine prisoner who was wearin’ yon watch. *Wull ye gie me it?’ Leskit him, He shookit his heed T eskit him the second time. He shook it his heed again. ‘For the third and last time, as a gentlemaun,’ I sez, ‘ will ye gie me thot watch?’ Heine shookit his heed.” “But you got it?” “Weel, efter thot I simply inherited it. The White Man’s Burden IRST MILKMAN: I declare! We'll have to raise the price of milk again soon, Seconp Minxaan: Sure will! I can hardly wait till the next official investigation. ea ee A\ Old Mr, Bear: LAND SAKES, HEPSY, WE'RE RUINED! MORNING SUPPLY OF MILK HERE WE WENT TO HED LAST FALL AND FOKGOT TO TELL THE MILKMAN TO STOP LEAVING 0UK