Life, 1920-06-03 · page 23 of 52
Life — June 3, 1920 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on post-WWI American economic cycles and class dynamics. **"The Vicious Circle"** poem by Roscoe Brumbaugh critiques economic inequality: servants now ride while masters walk; the wealthy complain most; profiteers cry "thief"; wages and prices spiral upward endlessly. The cartoon above depicts a crowded, chaotic crowd, illustrating social disorder from this economic inversion. **"Doctor Time"** satirizes economic complacency. It references 1893's surplus (replacing a deficit), noting that while prices subsequently rose and skirts shortened, people remained unsatisfied. The piece mocks those seeking quick financial fixes, arguing only "Doctor Time" cures economic ills—implying current problems will eventually resolve naturally, regardless of policy. **"A Popular Movement"** shows an earnest speaker at a packed hall raising funds for "impoverished contributors to innumerable other campaigns"—a joke about chronic fundraising fatigue among wealthy donors. The audience applauds because they didn't hear his actual pitch. The lower cartoon depicts the Argonaut (stranger in middle) being told not to move, suggesting he's serving as a convenient seat or prop.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIE E> The Vicious Circle Te is a topsy-turvy age, n servants ride and masters walk: And countless jobs, with princely wa Go while the workmen talk largest purse complains the most it" is the ery of profiteers; tandards raise the loudest boast; mely virtues meet with jeers. 1 follows shallow thought; yitator waxes fat: ive baubles now are sought i proletariat ds are granted by the score t hint of others still to come; wages rise the prices soar, so on ad infinitum, this wild spree will sometime go vubted not by sober men; ous circles break, we know— “THREE MPN ARE IN LOVE WITH HER, RUT NOKODY CAN TLL THE OVTCOM nly point in doubt is, When? way Nor?” Roscoe Brumbaugh “ NORODY KNOWS WHO WILL MAKE THE LARGEST ENOIV EDL CAMPAION CONTRIBUTION” . has effected a complete cure. Prices are higher, and so are Doctor Time skirts. As for the annual surplus, the invincible Doctor soon NX 1893, in place of an annual deficit this country had a surplus reduced that swelling. The very next year it began to subsic i one hundred and five million dollars; instead of being too and it soon disappeared entirely. Some may argue that the cure prices were too low, and in place of the abbreviated is worse than the disease, but that has hing to do with the xt to-day, women wore skirts so long that swept ease. The point is he cured us und. People were not satishied then, either janciers He will cure our present ills 4 Thirty years from now d that the annual surplus was a menace to our financial many of us will still be alive and kicking, but our cx the farmers raged heeause wheat was only fifty cents will be different. The present ailments will all be gone, and in and dress reformers clamored that the long skirts their place we will have a new set that we do not even dream cted disease germs and were thoroughly unhygienic of now. Why listen to the quack physicians who are constantly we look at conditions to-day, we note that Doctor Time feeling Uncle Sam's pulse, worrying about his circulation and fussing about his diet? Entrust the matter to Doctor Time—the only physician who never lost a Case ROS. M. A Popular Movement HE notice of the meeting was so worded that a generous response was assured. At the appointed hour the hall ‘was packed. T chairman called meeting to order and intr duced the speaker of the evening. He was a modestly dressed, unimpressive little man, but he was an earnest talker “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “this meet- ing was called for the purpose of starting a campaign to raise funds for the impoverished contributors to innumerable other campaigns.” The rest of the speech was not heard because of the tremendous applause The Winners’ Names Ind other interesting information about Lares One of the Arquers (to stranger in the middle): THAT's Avi Title Contest cwill be published in next week's DON'T MOVE, BOSS! YOU AIN'T DISTURBIN’ US Lire. comicbooks.com