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Life, 1920-05-27 · page 33 of 44

Life — May 27, 1920 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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Life — May 27, 1920 — page 33: Life, 1920-05-27

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical commentary on Prohibition (the ban on alcohol, 1920-1933). The main article is titled "The Blessings of Prohibition" and presents mock praise from "Our Office Optimist." The satire works by listing supposed "benefits" that are actually complaints: Prohibition gave people something to obsess over, made citizens interested in breaking laws and traveling to wet states, taught them about hidden cellars and friends' wealth, and motivated them to vote. The final joke—"It has not done for us yet—not quite!"—undercuts the entire argument, suggesting Prohibition has actually failed. The piece lampoons Prohibition-era hypocrisy: Americans publicly supported the law while privately circumventing it, and the ban had become a national obsession rather than solving social problems. The satire targets both the government's failed policy and citizens' newfound interest in lawbreaking as entertainment.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Blessings of Prohibition Jur Office Optimist) Prohibition done for us? to say to you that Prohibi- tion is being more unjustly abused to-day than alcoholic beverages used to be. Why, Prohibition done wonders for us. It has given us something to talk about be- sides the war 1s made the yeast cake, the three-mile limit and the freedom of the seas famous, and joke-writers rich It has broadened us tremendously by in- stilling in us all a desire to travel and an interest. in foreign lands. It has fur- ished a powerful incentive for us to gody the lav to learn just how far we an go in this land of the free, and into which states it's best to go. And we have le tat possession is nine points of friendship, as well as law. Before Prohibition came along, half of "t know we had cellars, and the alf didn't know what th : we not only know about er own cellars, but we know which of cere ave cellars and which have It’s life and action in pictures Why, just consider the discovering we never knew nats we tad~arl ther cellars And. a8, we that make them attractive consider them and their cellars, let us hat they will consider us in their ‘ : veacard’calzule one: . The graceful dive of the expert swimmer; the pole Then, last hut not least, we have learned vaulter clearing the bar by an inch; the racing motor that it pays to know who your represent- 7 ~. « ess ia’and what he's up to skidding in a cloud of dust, around the curve; the hawk d this fall we're going to the polls rising from the ground with its prey; the elusive expres- aed show them what we've learned. . You ask what Prohibition has done for sions and natural, easy poses of the youngsters caught xs, and we reply: ns i . . ae *ivhas riot done’tur us'yet—wovauttel” unprepared—pictures in unlimited variety that are differ . ent—that hold the interest because they tell a story. You Evidently a Misnomer A roof garden for cats is included in the can get them easily with a Graflex, where other cameras scheme f extension of the premises of er Dunk tenis! eames. paper: would fail. And the pictures are just as you want them— We have heard the nal cat on the fla called many names, but never s “dumb because you see in the camera, a full picture size reflection riend.”—f hy. . 7 of the subject. Eastman Kodak Company Folmer & Schwing Department Rochester, N. Y. =f The Psychological Moment The garage man, when they thi: li “ketch " "em at the psychological ave a blow-out moment ain, when they think the major /lomelike~ ~ but still in the heart of thi ans 1s on their trail The doctor, when they think they are - 5 : oe i The undertaker, when they don’t think yoing to dic. The lawyer, when they think they are going to be sent to jail. The dentist, when they think a tooth is RAGEDY: <A hat that looks pretty THE BILTMORE | going to blow off their heads. on a young girl who can't afford it, BN NEW YORK The tax collector, when they think they and is purchased by a fat dowager who = et | are going to be sold out. can. comicbooks.com any more! SSS Se eee