Life, 1920-06-10 · page 26 of 44
Life — June 10, 1920 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI American society through several cartoons: **"Around the Merry May Pole"** mocks political figures dancing around scandal (the "May pole" suggests entanglement). **"The Phenix"** depicts a figure rising from flames labeled "John Barleycorn" (Prohibition), holding bottles—satirizing alcohol's supposed death and resurrection despite the 18th Amendment (ratified in 1919). **"Who's Who in Overalls"** shows figures labeled Johnson, Wood, Globe, and Hoover debating which to "keep for best"—likely referencing prominent political/industrial figures of the era. **"In Memoriam"** honors William D. Howells (1837-1920), a prominent American writer. The accompanying article satirically argues jails should be "advertised" like resorts and compete for inmates, mocking both prison conditions and wealthy people's leisure culture. The satire suggests respectable citizens now populate jails, implying criminal conduct among the upper classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
in MEMORIAM. has been recent complaint that our jails are not what y ought to be. In view of the increased number of respectable people who are entering them, something should be done about it. W our jails need is more competition. The spirit of friendly riva One may just as well go to Atlanta as to Sin, The advantages of g¢ hy the authorities. Summer resorts are advertised—why not be absent. ail ought to be played up more WHOS WHO IN OVERALLS jails? It is probable that one will not lose half so much char- acter in a jail as in a summer resort. There does not seem to he enough profit in jails to make them worth while. And le- That is dead against If a man cannot make any money in It sides, they make one work while there. the present-day impulse. jail, he certainly should be allowed the privilege of resting. doesn't speak very well for our jails when they are the only government-controlled places where the guests are made to do regular work. comicbooks.com