Life, 1920-06-03 · page 22 of 52
Life — June 3, 1920 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on 1920s American culture: **"Ode to a Ouija"** mocks the popularity of Ouija boards as a supposedly mystical device, sarcastically praising them because they're actually just pieces of wood you move yourself—making the "spiritualism" entirely fraudulent and controllable. **"The S.S. Hylan"** satirizes NYC Mayor John F. Hylan, ridiculing a police boat named after him. The sarcastic description of the flag's colors (white for purity, green for "The Old Country," yellow for publisher William Randolph Hearst) implies Hylan is corrupt and influenced by Hearst. **"The March of Civilization"** celebrates Prohibition's enforcement, noting more illegal stills were found in 1929 than ever before—presented as "progress," though the irony suggests Prohibition is actually failing spectacularly. **Top cartoon** depicts animals leaving a theater marked "EXIT," captioned "That First Sad Parting," likely commenting on something in popular entertainment. The page overall satirizes government incompetence, public gullibility, and Prohibition's obvious failure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ode to a Ouija OBRACLES for the heathen, And prophets for the Jew, But the Ouij for me. yes, the Ouija board Saints have their disadvantages And prophets not i few, But the Ouija board just suits me to aT. For there's nothing very formal, Or in any way abnormal In the advice way you call on Ouija for It isn't psyehic—still Yon can move it where you will, Which, when you come to think of it, Is really rather nice The S. S. Hylan EW YORK CITY is in recent posses- sion of a police boat named John F. Hylan, The Hylan will ply the pellucid waters of New York harbor. Itmayeven he induced to make side trips to Palm Beach and Atlantic City. Though it is likely to spring an occasional leak and require a firm hand at the helm, it should provide plenty of amusement and recreation for its crew. It was sold to the city for the nominal sum of one dollar. Whether, in consideration of its namesake, it may be looked upon as an outright bargain is too impertinent a question to tolerate. “On the funnel of the Hylan (so said the That First Sad Parting New York Ev design of a fla ring Sun) is the unique ainted in white and green stripes with a yellow border.” How appropriate! The white, no doubt or purity; the green, a touching tribute * Ould Counthry, and the yellow horder out of respect to Mr. Hearst Budding Greatness FPORTER: 1 called, learn something of the early struggles madam, to of your distinguished son Ow Lavy: He had no struggles that T can recollect, except that he made a good deal of fuss about having his face washed. syde The Old Schoolmaster Is THAT AL The March of Civilization M IRI York City in the first three of ozo than in any illicit stills were found iv previous record Which is shortsighted sufficient: answer to thos skeptics who claimed Prohibition would retard progress 1 without servants to have the hop it dreadful? lt was had enoug! visit us, but now he writes asking if we mind having the curate also.” ' “Providence, my dear! Providence The curate can help with the dishes.” ,-\ t THEE Coop Epi TEM? comicbooks.com