Life, 1920-05-20 · page 19 of 48
Life — May 20, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces from Life magazine: **Top Cartoon:** A domestic humor joke about a repairman visiting a home. The humor relies on a double meaning: the woman won't let the repairman take her clothes for repair because "he's just my size"—implying he might steal them or that there's an improper suggestion. **"A Modern Instance" Article:** A longer satire imagining Noah building the Ark in modern times. The piece mocks contemporary labor disputes, regulations, and social conflicts by contrasting them with the biblical story. It references strikes, union demands, compensation disputes, health inspectors, and "wets vs. drys"—the latter referring to Prohibition-era debates over alcohol. The satire suggests modern bureaucracy and labor complications would make even a divinely-mandated project impossible to complete. The embedded puzzle cartoon shows a crowded room with the caption asking which seat a young man will choose—likely another social commentary, though its specific reference is unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ARE YOUR CLOTHES KEADY Fok THE KEPAIK MAN?” “VES, BUT I'M AFRAID TO LET HIM HAVE TEM.” “wry?” “e's yUsT My size.” Should it be oil- val-burr ? § i not even the bonus tem now in vogue A Modern Instance he listen to the advocates concrete or could assure the ark’s being ready on time N' YAH built the ark, and because strikes trust those who were sure that the ark’s . when the ark was eventually were unknown in those days, it was only safety lay in fabricated steel? And launched, t ands would rebel uly for occupancy on contract Before the rains fell Soul and family had moved in tegether with the male and fe- © representatives of every ing thing upon earth But imagine the innumerable heulties that would confront m to-day! He would encoun- strikes if he did not employ on men, and would have to estle with the problem of ad- tional compensation for over- ve. There would be every sort ' contention relative to the ind specifications, and how many experts would tell him that his type of ark would founder PUZZLE 4S soon as it was launched? WHICH SEAT WILL THE YOUNG MAN TAKE? getting on board. The Se would refuse passage unless ld for them, The Yoxis would claim they had no room for their exercises, and the ouija-fiends would declare that they had ha warnings of approaching the promenade deck a one-way street, and the health authorities would probably con demn the whole proposition on the grounds that there were not enough windows. And _ finally, the most efficient Noah in the world to-day could never launch his Ark unless the wets out- numbered the drys comicbooks.com