Life, 1920-07-15 · page 26 of 40
Life — July 15, 1920 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains political and social satire typical of the era. **Top cartoon**: A golf lesson joke mocking formal photography—the instructor compares holding still for a golf swing to posing for a photograph, and Jones replies he's grateful not to have to look "pleasant" doing it. This satirizes the stiffness of early photography. **"The Biograph"**: A biographical poem about Warren G. Harding, the 1920 Republican ("G.O.P.") presidential nominee from Ohio. The verse mockingly acknowledges detractors call him "Small Potatoes" and compare him unfavorably to Franklin Pierce, yet notes even Lincoln wasn't highly regarded when nominated. The closing line suggests voting for him because he's running with Calvin Coolidge—faint praise. **"Our Course in English"**: Cynical commentary on trained performing dogs. It reveals the cruel training methods (doping, whipping, starvation) hidden from audiences who only see the tricks. The piece satirizes willful ignorance and American complacency—we prefer not knowing uncomfortable truths. **"The Unknown"**: A quip that a person hasn't achieved fame until attacked on moral, religious, or patriotic grounds.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Professional (to Jones, taking his first golf lesson): YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR HEAD PERFECTLY STILL, SIR, JUST AS IF YOU WAS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED. Jones: WELL, THANK GOD I DON’T HAVE TO LOOK SO D——D PLEASANT ABOUT IT, “MY DEAR YOUNG LADY, MY LIFE KNOWS NO LAW, [AM FREE. 1 BEHAVE ALWAYS. AS 1 FREL.” “YES? ISN'T THAT NICE! 1 DO HOPE YOU'LL BE FEELING BETTER SOCN.” The Biograph WARREN GAMALIEL HARDIN all this Biographic Barding I've somehow slighted Warren Hard- ing, The Presidential Nominee Of what is called the G. O. P. Like many others dear to Clio, He comes from Eloquent Ohio, And ran a Printing Press before They set him up as Sen-a-tor. While Friends may rank his Mind with Plato's, Detractors call him Small Potatoes, Comparing him to Franklin Pierce— And that, you know, is Something Fierce! Still, even Lincoln wasn't rated Of much account when nominated, And anyone aboard the boat With Coolidge may be worth a Vote. Our Course in English ersations for the Benefit of Those IVho Wish to Obtain Quickly a Kno} edge of Our Esteemed Language HE trained dogs are acting on the stage before an audience. They are doing a lot of wonderful tricks. The man is directing them. The audience is applauding. It took a long time for the dogs to learn these tricks. The man had to train them constantly. This was hard on the man. But the audience does not care about the man. They are looking at the dogs. All they see are the tricks. They do not see how the dogs were trained. Neither do we, for that matter. I shall tell you, if you'd like me to. Yes, you do like me to. trained with dope. And they are whipped, and sometimes starved. Shall I go on? No, you say not. You do not like to hear that. And so we shall just look at the dogs and applaud them, It is better so (expression of American resignation) We are happy when we do not know everything. Ah, yes; that is plain. That is in every language. The Unknown a he a famous author?” “No. He hasn't yet been attacked on moral, religious or patriotic grounds.” The dogs are “CCONGRATULATIONS, old chappie. Quite a surprise, your engagement.” “Yaas. You see, we're such opposites.” “T hear she is tremendously clever.”