Life, 1920-07-22 · page 13 of 40
Life — July 22, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor rather than political cartooning: **"To a Good Friend"** is a poem by Berton Braley praising "John Bull" (personification of Britain/the British people), emphasizing shared bonds despite disagreements. **The main illustration** shows a couple in an interior scene—a man seated, woman standing—with dialogue about one partner encouraging the other's infidelity, creating domestic comedy about marital trust and hypocrisy. **"Stock Speculation"** and **"Undereducated"** are brief satirical anecdotes mocking financial speculation (circus animals confused with stock), and a man whose wife is financially naive because he's never educated her. **The rooster cartoon** shows farm animals discussing marriage costs—visual humor about working-class economics. These represent typical *Life* magazine content: light social satire targeting middle-class manners, financial speculation, and domestic relationships rather than serious political critique.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To a Good Friend WITH propaganda much re-Hearst, John Bull, Your ways are vilified and cursed, John Bull; And yet, old friend, for all the lies Which demagogues and fools devise And all the varied stunts they pull, We view you with unjaundiced eyes, John Bull. You are not perfect, we agree, John Bull; But neither, by and large, are we, John Bull. We fought each other, long ago, But fought the Hun together, so Our mingled blood has paid in full Whatever mutual grudge we owe, John Bull. Though agitators snarl and screech, John Bull, Our bond of blood and common speech, John Bull, Will not be lost. At times we gaze Bewildered at each other’s ways. Toward diverse ends we seem to pull; But that’s a temporary phase, John Bull. We'll fuss and bicker, there’s no doubt, John Bull. But like good pals we'll thresh it out, John Bull. Don't mind the curs that snarl at heel; At heart we know you're true as steel; full yard wide and wool—all wool; That's just exactly how we feel, | | John Bull! i | Berton Braley. He: HOW COULD YOU DELIBERATELY ENCOURAGE ME, WHEN YOU KNEW THAT YOu WERE GOING TO THROW ME OVER? She: pox't! PLEASE DON'T! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE MAKING ME VERY UNHAPPY? Stock Speculation WITCH TENDER: And what was the terrible fight about down at the freight yards this morning? Track Watker: Sure now, ‘twas all over a young elephant what a circus man wanted to ship to Saint Looey. Murphy said it was nursery stock, O'Brien claimed it should go at trunk rates, and Dugan swore they should bill it as a baby grand! Undereducated ARKE: My wife is a nice woman, but she simply has no idea about money. Lane: Perhaps you have never given her a chance to find out about it. RADICAL is, after all, only a man who has done some reading outside of his father’s library. : I'D LIKE TO GET MARRIED AND START UP HOUSE- KEEPING, BUT I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO BUY A NEST EGG comicbooks.com