Life, 1920-05-13 · page 12 of 52
Life — May 13, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes "Pussyfoot" Johnson, a real Prohibition reformer who successfully advocated for alcohol bans in England and America. The article praises Johnson as a "game sport" for his anti-alcohol work, though acknowledges he was unpopular and faced rough treatment. The top illustration shows Johnson surveying a devastated landscape—likely representing the social damage Prohibition caused. The bottom illustration, captioned "Time and Tide Wait for No Man," depicts two figures in turbulent waters, presumably commenting on how Prohibition's consequences were inevitable and inescapable. The satire suggests that while Johnson's intentions were earnest, his reform efforts produced unintended harmful consequences that society couldn't escape, no matter how well-intentioned the reformer.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pussyfoot SSYFOOT” JOHNSON for him, and not at all like reformers as P should be home. It ca said, that he i the traditional temperance represented on the stage and in the funny pictures, He is not even like Anderson, the Prohibition manager in this state, who is a vituperative person. “Pussyfoot” Johnson is not vituper- ative. He is an earnest Prohibitionist advocate, but it will be x ly admitted that he is good at it and is a game per- son, He went to England to agitate and organize against rum. It was not a very popular errand, and some at him, exe hoys got nd there was a rough-house, and they put out one of his eyes. He never complained, nor appealed to the police, nor even lamented unduly. He put a bandage over his eye and went on. That made him popular. Seeing tl a game sport, people listened to him: said he did a at he was He that whereas Prohibition was little discussed in good deal, and England .when he went there, when he came away it was next to the peace as a subject He does not claim that that was all his doing, and of course it did did count. Most observers who look across of conversation wasn't, but what he sackward Atlantic get the impression that 1 stimulants by a considerable quantity consumed in the British Isles th necessary to the well-heing of habitants. A dry England ic rather a sad thought; probably it won't come to pass; but probably also England might be from one-third to two-thirds drier than she is present: wi at any loss to character or efficiency with very considerable in to health a intelligence. doubtful will It seems quite whether aly solute Prohibition last anywhere Here we have made a clean sweep, and may reasonably hope to get hack drinks enough pretty soon to us some good, but not enough to do uch arm, Px repeated in’ 1 seem likely cut down yssibly that same process land, though it does Over there they will tr without the damage ever intervening period of total abolition. It hetter, if they can do it, to get rid fleas ever m experienc all the themselves to human The without thod is world killing the dog, but y tried, our example will doubtless be val Laws in the end ture as they Eighte adjustment of the Amendment has not been worked out HALL drive drink ? we seon hear of troubles + aman to work instead « “TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN” comicbooks.com