Life, 1920-07-08 · page 38 of 40
Life — July 8, 1920 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and reader correspondence**, not political satire. The main cartoon (left) illustrates a Powersteel Autowlock ad: a thief attempts to steal a car but is thwarted by the anti-theft device. The humor is straightforward—the frustrated criminal represents the product's effectiveness. The letters section contains two notable items: a correction about *The Dial* magazine (clarifying it shifted from political satire to arts coverage), and a longer complaint from an unnamed serviceman about post-WWI treatment. The latter is genuinely bitter—he argues returning soldiers received poor job prospects and a meager $60 bonus despite promises of fair treatment. He distinguishes between rejecting a "paid patriotism" bonus while demanding actual economic opportunity. The **social context**: This reflects genuine 1920 tensions over veteran reintegration and the perceived betrayal of returning soldiers by employers and government. It's earnest grievance, not satire—illustrating how economic disappointment after WWI fueled postwar discontent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Foiled! Mr. Auto Thief turns away with a curse every time he spots a car or spare tire pro- tected with PoOwWERSTEEL AUTOWLOCK He knows he can’t beat that combination of famous Yel- low Strand Wire Rope and non-pickable spring lock. Handy, compact. So re- liable that it saves 10% on theft insurance in some com- panies. At dealers, $2.80 east of Rockies. Basuine AvTrow ine, also made of Yellow Strand Rope, is the origina/ wire rope towline. Fits under seat cushion. Has patented Snafle Hooks that snap on easily and can’t loosen. At dealers, $6.95 east of Rockies. PowERSTEEL TRUCKLINE, another necessity, is just what you need for truck- towing. Retails, east _ of Rockies, at $11.30 with plain hooks; $12.75 with Snaffle Hooks. BRODERICK & BASCOM ROPE CO. ST, LOUIS—NEW YORK Manufacturers of Celebrated Yellow Strand Wire Rope—For General Construc- tion Work and Other Industrial Uses. peo A Correction To tne Evrtor or Lire—Sir: The poem by Berton Braley entitled “Fed Up,” pub lished in your issue of May 13th, is clever but somewhat behind the times. We should be sorry to deprive Mr. Braley of a rhyme for the word “trial,” but it is, unfortunately for Mr. Braley, true that the control of The Dial changed hands last year, and that it thereupon quit the fumy scene of contemporary politics. Beginning with the January issue, The Dial became a monthly magazine devoted wholly to the service of art and letters We do not care for any apology on ac count of Mr. Braley’s lack of information but we presume that you cannot do less than to publish this letter by way of right ing the false impression which this poem conveys. Yours very truly, Tue Diat. Pertrsitixc Comraxy. Wanted: A Square Deal mie Eprtor of Lirr—Sir: An article h issue of Lire, by “E. S question, handles the very . I think, expresses jority of the former service men. Personally, T am opposed to he sentiment the whole idea of a bonus, and matter had never come up, nor the pa of legislation urged But there is another side to this whole question, generally overlooked, or given scant attention. The country at large has failed utterly to live up to its ob! ns to the returned service man and the fine prom ises made in the early days of the war by employers generally, that when a man re- turned he would be welcomed back to his old job with open arms He not only does not get his old job back, in a shamefully large number of cases, but if he is looking for a new place, he meets with coolness and indifference. Nobody cares a hang whether he gets one or not The attitude of business men seems to be that if you have been in the army two or three years, you are a bum until you prove yourself otherwise, and must start at the bottom again. You aren't even given a chance to make good, but already having lost two or three years in the war, must go back where it will require that many more to get to where you left off, We don't want a bonus; we don't want to be “paid for our patriotism.” We did expect a square deal.. To those who re turned immediately after the signing of the armistice the situation wasn’t so bad, but the men who came back months later were left to shift for themselves, and a grateful country left them with a sixty-dollar bonus and the spiritual benefits derived from their service in the geeat war, satisfied that the last limit of its obligations had been ful- filled, and promptly forgot about the war. It is’ enough to crush out all idealism and make a man want to grab for all he can get to make up for lost time. Ex-Service May, New York City, May 29, 1920. PETE T CAREY. PRINTER CUSTOMS FIFTY YEARS AGO among us would si “L never use 4 I never hay Yet Fifty years a; odd as it may seem, not one person in 1,000 used a Dentifrice — or even 5 tooth brush. So, to-day, after more than 30. years =x-_ of persistent publici- > ty of Allen’s Foot-Ease The Antiseptic Powder for the Feet not many well-turned-out people caré to con jess. “You know I never have to use a Pow der for the Feet!” More than One Million five hundred thou sand ‘pounds of Powder for the Feet were used by our Army and Navy during the war The reason is this: Incasing and confin ing the fect in Leather or Canvas Sho bound to create friction more or less. Allen's Foot=Ease removes the friction from th and freshens the this friction wh unions. You know friction does to r motor-car axle. not remove it from foot-wear by Shak- into your Shoes to- en's Foot=Ease, nly, wholesome, healing, Antiseptic pow: der? Get the habit, as millions now have’ it, who inhabit our, as yet, imperfect world. Where Ignorance Is Bliss “TyON'T you think we ought to know the people we are voting for?” “Dear me, no. If we did, we wouldn't vote for them.” JIE a nice week-end?” rightful! It rained the whole r, and the guests couldn't get away from one another.” TYP FEE AAT ETAT ONY > , = He Centre of Scoial Life Conenient lo Cheatres ard Ske po DAE THE BILTMORE NEW YORK comicbookSeom