Life, 1920-05-27 · page 14 of 44
Life — May 27, 1920 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a book agent pitching to a clergyman, with the caption suggesting the agent wants to sell religious books to church officials while offering a "reduction to the clergy." **"A Dark and Hirsute Future"** satirizes concerns about Bolshevism (Russian communism). The author worries that if Russia's Bolsheviks succeed in spreading their ideology, Britain—currently civilized and humorous—might lose its sense of humor and cultural sophistication. The piece treats this as an existential threat to British civilization. **"Choosing a Resort"** offers practical vacation advice about selecting affordable holiday destinations. **"Worse"** is a brief joke about marriage: Willis asks if his daughter married someone respectable; the response jokes that her husband is "honest-to-goodness doesn't-want-to-be"—wordplay mocking her husband's character.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
y OSM as ‘7 Wain A oe Ms Bain gent (to Baptist clergyman) DISTILLEK "—AND WE MAKE A Dark and Hirsute Future OST countries advanced in the doubtiul art of civilization have developed cnough of a onal sense of humor to have acquired an audience of cheer- ful listeners, who are trained to laugh at jokes. In Great Britain any allusion to a huntsman coming .a cropper over a fence into a ditch is sure to be greeted in all the London clubs with a properly decorous appreciation, Among all the so-called civilized nations—Great Brit- = , France, etc.—Russia seems to be the only one that has no sense of humor. And out of Russia come the Bolsheviki. Certainly nobody could accuse these gentry of even assuming the virtue of jocularity. If they are therefore going to overrun us, what is going to happen? Is all the labor expended on people to get them to laugh at jokes going to be i i We are having a hard time at present, but at least we some fun out of the things said about the landlord, and the man in overalls. But if the Bolsheviki are going to sweep over us and prevent us from laughing at our misfortunes, we might as well close up shop, Worse Did your daughter marry a “has-been "? Worse than that. He’s an honest-to-goodness “ doesn’t-want-to-be.” ILLIS: Giuts: THIS LITTLE BOOK JUST OUT- A REDUCTION To THE CLERGY! mu = “EVERY MAN HIS OWN Choosing a Resort HE method of selecting a place to spend the summer v the same this year as last. Father brings home a list thirty possible places. He goes over the list carefully an marks off twenty places where the prices are reasona where you can obtain a good rest without worry? hout clothes. From the remaining ten mother and the girls will then choose the place to which you are really going THE GANG SEES A HINT OF BOLSHEVISM IN WILLIE'S RED NECKTIE comicbooks.com