Life, 1920-06-24 · page 31 of 41
Life — June 24, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical sketch about Prohibition-era bootlegging. A "Thirsty Citizen" seeks alcohol from two birds (likely representing a naive convert to bootlegging and a cynical raven). The convert enthusiastically explains how to make illegal liquor at home—combining a raisin, cornmeal, sugar, and distilled water over thirty days—while the raven repeatedly protests with dark humor ("This is murder," "you will make a beautiful corpse"). The joke mocks amateur home-brewing during Prohibition: the amateur bootlegger is earnest but incompetent, the resulting "smile" (drunkenness) comes with serious consequences, and even the cynic knows it's dangerous. The citizen leaves muttering the recipe, setting himself up for potential poisoning or legal trouble. The page also contains unrelated advertisements for Graflex cameras and Bellans antacid.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
We Jlomelike~ but still in the heart of things € The Convert gees Inywhere in the United Buvenikn (tvvittering) : Heigho! Happy days. Raven: Never more. Enter a Thirsty Citizen. Twirsty Citizen: Can either of you birds direct me to a smile? Raven: It can't be done. Buvest Oh, yes, it can. First you take a n. Raven: Don't, don't Tnirsty Citizen: A raisin, yes. Bivrnixy: Then a thimbleful of meal. Raven: Spare us Buvruino: Then a teaspoonful of sugar Raven: This is murder. Buvenixy: Mix well in half a pint of distilled water. Raven; Water! Do you hear that? Buureiko: Then stand in a dark place for thirty days Raves: Thirsty days. 6 BELLANS Hot water | EL L-ANS RAFFLE There is certainty in picture-making with a Graflex. The user of the Graflex brushes aside the usual handicaps— he almost disregards subject, time, place or light. The 1-1000 of a second snap that stops the bird on the wing, the slow snap for an indoor portrait, che prolonged time exposure—all are easily within its scope. Graflex widens the possibilities of pictorial achievement. Eastman Kodak Company Folmer & Schwing Department Rochester, N. Y. Cataligue fore at your Dealer's or by mail. Buvesixy: Strain, season to taste, and Tuirsty Citizen: By Jove, I believe drink, I will! It can't be any worse than it is Tursty Citizen: But the smile? here. Thank you, thank you. Bivesirp: You will smile when you (He goes off muttering to himself,“ A drink. raisin, a thimbleful of cornmeal, sugar, Raven: Yes, you will make a beautiful distilled water,” ete., etc.) corpse. Curtain Turrsty Citizen: How terrible! Foster Ware, Bi wrD: ~=But you will be, oh, so — happy! NY woman is suspicious of another Raven (pointing): Up There. woman who can keep a secret. comicbooks.com