Life — April 29, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1920 cartoon satirizes political leadership during Prohibition. The tall, ghostly figure holding a wine glass and decanter appears to represent alcohol itself or its personification—now "the life of the party" despite being newly illegal under the 18th Amendment (ratified January 1920). Three smaller figures below, depicted as ordinary citizens or politicians, look upward. Their expressions suggest bewilderment or concern about alcohol's continued cultural presence despite Prohibition's legal ban. The satire critiques the gap between Prohibition law and social reality: despite federal prohibition, alcohol remained central to American social life and culture. The cartoon suggests that banning alcohol couldn't kill its appeal—it remained "the life of the party" regardless of legal status.