Life, 1920-05-27 · page 17 of 44
Life — May 27, 1920 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** A rural man recounts catching a large fish on September 5, 1914—the date of the Battle of the Marne (a major WWI battle). The humor lies in the absurd juxtaposition: while momentous historical events occurred abroad, ordinary Americans were focused on trivial local matters like fishing. **Bottom Cartoon & Article:** The article satirizes Frank A. Munsey, publisher of the *Sun* newspaper, who advocated for government control of paper during wartime. The piece criticizes formal titles like "Mr." that obscure a person's actual character and accomplishments. It argues that the polite "Mr. Munsey" fails to convey the aggressive, rough businessman who has spent thirty years scrambling through magazine publishing and newspaper acquisition. The "Cobbler's Son" cartoon (likely depicting Munsey's working-class origins) reinforces this theme: his real identity isn't reflected in genteel social conventions. The satire critiques both wartime paper rationing debates and the gap between social polish and authentic character.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“IN THE YEAR NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN, RIGHT ON THIS SPOT WHERE I'M STANDIN’, ON THE FIFTH OF SEPTEMBER—THE DAY THE RATTLE OF THE MARNE WAS FOUGHT FISH WEIGHIN’ A POUND AND A QUARTER” EOXMUGHT A SUX Call Him Frank HEADLINE in the Sun, ete, reads: "United States control of paper is urged by Mr. Munsey.” May not one deprecate this description of the proprictor of the Sun, ete. as“ Mr. Munsey,” natural though it must be? The mind's eve sees “* Mr. Munsey” as a gentleman in »p hat, on his way to afternoon tea. The emphasis of that description externals, whereas the man who wants government of paper is Frank A. Munsey, who has been tumbling around in the saw ring for the thirty years, making magazines and sel them, dickering and merchandising, and all that. It is Frawk Munsey who cares about paper. Even the Si, cte., ought to recog- nize that. wi “Mr.” is a very leveling title. It levels up the small “and levels down the large. For really husky people it is only suitable when it relates to their minor and more polite aspects Thus the dinner-party Munsey is “ Mr.." but the proprietor of the Sun, ete, who buys venerable publications and scrambles them inextricably and munseys them more or less, and has convictions about paper, is Frank, THE COBBLER'S SON The People: wey, ror! now anout MY sHoES? comicbooks.com