Life, 1920-05-13 · page 22 of 52
Life — May 13, 1920 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Anglo-American relations post-WWI through a dialogue between **Uncle Sam** (America) and **John Bull** (Britain personified). **Main Cartoon (top):** Uncle Sam and John Bull converse about their differences. Sam argues America, though young and idealistic, offers something Britain—old, experienced, but rigid—needs: youthful idealism and desire to help others globally. Both nations acknowledge past moral failures (slavery, imperialism, tactics with Ireland/Turkey/Mexico). **Lower Cartoon:** A crude joke about "Bolshevist orators" using "soapbox" literally instead of soap—mocking both radical speakers and their poor hygiene. **Context:** This reflects 1920s anxiety about American-British cooperation amid post-war upheaval, Bolshevism, and Irish/Egyptian independence movements. The "Hearsts and Shaws and Sinn Feiners" reference divisive factions threatening unity. **Point:** America and Britain should unite despite past wrongs; youthful American idealism complements British experience against common threats (radicalism, instability).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
saying a mouthful, but am T getting you? Say! Uncle Sam foyed with his gold wateh and chain. “It’s really ripping of you, old boy he replied, “to unbend to such a sj thetic understanding of my crude pat Listen! The difference between us is this: You're an old hand, and I am a young one; you're more expert at running other people's affairs than I am, but you're more set in your ys than Iam. We are both materialistic, but I have some- thing inside of me—I won't say positively that you haven't got it, but you've had to sit pretty tight since you were born, and defend yourself. Naturally you're a hard man to move. This something I speak of—well, it's youth, it's idealism, it's a foolish desire to help the other peoples She: WHY DO ALL THESE BOLSHEVIST ORATORS LOOK SO DIRTY? of the earth—it's something like He: WiLL, THEY USE THE SOAP BOX INSTEAD OF THE SOAP. Small as it may be, it’s there. I don't mean to accuse you of not understanding what this thing is. You've proved your- self better at running affairs than any- hody else, so far; but—you need a side partner, We've both of us done things that we ought not to have done, and left undone things that we ought to have done. You encouraged the South in. slavery. You were intolerant of the Boers. You've been tactless with the Irish. You've averted your eyes too often from the Turk. “T oppressed and almost annihilated the Indian. I enslaved the negro, and paid for it. I assaulted Mexico, and even to this day I haven't learned how to treat her. I lagged behind in the recent war. I profiteered and squandered. But there is a something in me—my Filipinos and Cubans will testify to that—a spark of idealism that makes me long at times to do my share towards making the world hetter—even at personal sacrifice!” “Tut, cousin, don't you suppose that I also have—" “Yes, yes, but—" “Wait and see. Meanwhile, shal:e hands We must stand together. Let the Hearsts and the Shaws and the Sinn Feiners shriek. We need each other. You're right! ” “Put her there!” A messenger entered. ‘aris wishes to talk to Mr. John Bull from the top of the Woolworth building And as the portly old gentleman puffed up to the tower he wiped his brow am! soliloquized : “My word, but I'm thirsty.” (incre T.L. M. verge NE way to help others is to keep out THE WAY IT SEEMED TO WILLIE THE FIKST TIME HE SAID “DAMN” of their way. comicbooks.com