Life, 1920-08-05 · page 19 of 48
Life — August 5, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a newly-appointed presidential Cabinet meeting focused on achieving "harmony" above all else. The President advocates gracious yielding on every issue—China policy, labor disputes, and Mexico—prioritizing consensus and companionship over substantive decision-making. The main cartoon (bottom) depicts a chaotic household where a man cooks while a woman works at a desk, illustrating the caption's joke: the husband of a "household hints" columnist wishes his wife would take her own advice—implying her domestic suggestions don't match reality. Additional satirical items mock: - **"Regular Rates"**: A genealogist charging more to hide family history than discover it—commentary on class pretension - **"Lullaby"**: A poem addressing money as if to a child, suggesting Americans' naive faith in economic security The overall tone critiques political passivity and superficial harmony-seeking while depicting gender role confusion and economic anxiety of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Let Us Now Have Peace! HE new Cabinet met schedule. “Good morning, gentlemen,” said the President, with a genial smile; “I trust that you are all well and happy this pleas- ant morning.” “There is only one thing that troubles me,” said the Secretary of State, “and that is our relationship to China. I am afraid there is a slight difference of opin- ion between me and Wall Street about a little loan now being negotiated.” “Difference of opinion!” exclaimed the President. “Impossible! We are all well-meaning and harmonious gentlemen. There must be no difference of opinion.” “Then you would—?” “Yield graciously. Always yield gra- ciously. It is a mistake to suppose that yielding graciously is a sign of weak- ness.” “And about our dispute with the labor delegates,” broke in the Secretary of Labor ; “ should we or should we not—?” “We should,” replied according to the President. THE HUSBAND OF THE LADY WHO WRITES “ HOUSEHOLD HINTS “LIFE: “We always should. Harmony, gentle- men, harmony is our watchword.” “I believe that Mexico,” said the Sec- retary of War, “that Mexico—” “Ah, yes,” soliloquized the President “To be sure. Dear old Mexico! Won- derful country is Mexico! When you write, send Mexico my love. And how is Congress feeling this morning? And my warm friends, the Senate?” “Perfectly lovely, ” replied his private secretary. “The House sent this little bunch of violets, and the Senate wishes you to accept this nice red apple.” “How delightful! Always thinking of others. Put them with the other offer- ings. And now, gentlemen, that the busi- ness of the day is over, what do you say to a foursome? I'll play with anybody, no matter what their score is. It's the companionship that counts. Yes, gentle- men, harmony and c mpanionship and gracious yielding. And to think that it has taken all these years to discover that that is our greatest strength!” Micon 231 Prominent T will be a great comfort to many peo- Mochir-ed-Dowleh has been appointed Premier of that Chadimy has consented to take charge of the de- ple to know that Persia Saltanch and Moscar-e: partment of foreign affairs. (It has not yet been disclosed whether this latter gen- tleman is any relative of Mr. Salteena, first made known to us by Daisy Ash- ford.) These gentlemen are almost as familiar to us as many of those we are nominating for public offices in this country. Regular Rates R. NEWLEIGH RICHE: much do you charge to dig up data How and trace back family lines? Geneatocist: Two hundred to have it dug up, five hundred to have i. hushed up. Lullaby HERE, little dollar, don't you ery; You may buy something by and by. WISHES SHE'D TAKE THEM comicbooks.com