Life — April 1, 1920 — page 49: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **Rubberset shaving brush advertisement** disguised as political satire. The ad plays on 1920s debate over the League of Nations by suggesting that if the League operated with the strict principles of a "League of Bristles" (a fictional governing body for shaving brushes), it would function better. The satire compares international diplomacy to shaving brush manufacturing standards—the implication being that nations, like bristles, need firm rules and binding covenants to work together effectively. The illustration shows figures seemingly caught under or supporting a giant brush, suggesting the weight of international obligations. The text by "Old Man Rubberset" humorously presents buying their brush as becoming an "associate member" of this league, binding oneself to quality standards. **Context:** This reflects contemporary skepticism about whether the actual League of Nations could enforce its principles—a common American concern in the early 1920s.