Life, 1920-07-29 · page 20 of 36
Life — July 29, 1920 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** Shows the Smyth family wearing old carnival costumes at home to preserve their regular clothes during a period of high clothing costs—a direct reference to post-WWI inflation and economic hardship. The joke satirizes how ordinary families economized during this expensive period. **Main Story ("Outdoing Solomon"):** A moral fable by W.W. Whitelock about a young man granted one wish by a genie. Rather than immediately wishing for riches, wisdom, or love, he delays. By old age, he's earned all three through his own efforts and learned to appreciate them—the genie approves his restraint. The story argues that self-made success and patience yield better results than instant gratification. **Bottom Cartoon:** Two working-class men discuss the "bright side" of high clothing costs: secondhand clothes dealers no longer bother them, implying poverty has made them irrelevant customers. **"Culture!" Section:** A brief joke about what different social classes read—magazines, sports pages, and train schedules—mocking lowbrow reading habits.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SMYTHS ARE WEARING OUT SOME OLD CARNIVAL COSTUMES TO SAVE THEIR REGULAR CLOTHES Outdoing Solomon —ten years if you like. Here, rub this ring when you want me, and I will appear,” and he handed a ring to the Young Man. Then he disappeared. “There's no need for hurry,” thought the Young Man, and he placed the ring in a trunk for safe-keeping. Months, years passed, but he still deferred calling on the Genie to redeem his promise. In the end the ring faded from his memory. But one day when old age was approaching he bethought him of the ring and decided to call the Genie. In response to his summons, the spirit appeared. “Here's your ring,” said the Old Man who had once been Young. “I have no further use for it. I've grown old very successfully without it.” The Genie took the ring and regarded him with an approving smile. “You acted with rare discretion, Had you uttered a wish when I gave you the ring it would almost certainly have been either for riches, wisdom or love. Riches would have ruined you, sudden wisdom at that time of life in a world of fools would have maddened you, and love unsought for and unprized would have disgusted you. As it is, by your own efforts you have acquired all three of these blessings and learned how to appreciate them. God be with you!” and this time he disap- peared forever. HERE was once a Young Man of the East who had placed powerful Genie under great obligation. Express a wish and I will grant it for you,” said the Genie. “But think well before speaking, for you can have only one.” “May I have a few days to consider the matter?” he de- manded. “Certainly,” replied the Genie. “ Take all the time you want W. W. Whitelock. Culture! IGGS: Townsen can read three languages. “THERE'S A BRIGHT SIDE TO THIS HIGH COST 0’ CLOTHES— Trices: What are they? THE OLD-CLOTHES MEN DON’T BOTHER US ANY MORE” Jiccs: Magazines, sporting pages and railroad time-tables. comicbooks PxOH |