Life, 1920-10-21 · page 26 of 44
Life — October 21, 1920 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes contemporary social issues through "Life's Bi-weekascope" cartoons: **"The White Man's Burden"** references Kipling's imperialist poem, here mocking progressive reformers as chaotic agitators disrupting society with constant constitutional amendments. **"Negro Women Ignore Ballot in Louisiana"** depicts Black women dismissing voting rights, sarcastically commenting on Southern resistance to Black suffrage. **"A Triumph Over Capitalism"** shows a wealthy man fleeing labor activists—satirizing either socialist movements or capitalist anxieties. **"Dolling Up for Ladies' Day"** mocks women's suffrage supporters. The accompanying text humorously proposes absurd constitutional amendments (banning certain hairstyles, words like "jazz," sentimental songs) to satirize what the magazine views as excessive amendment-mongering and social meddling. The cartoons reflect Life's skepticism toward progressive reform movements of the era, using crude racial imagery typical of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEGRO WOMEN IGNORE BALLOT IN LOUISIANA WOMEN VOTE THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN, A TRIUMPH OVER CAPITALISM. DOLLING UP FOR LADIES’ Day. Lire’s Bi-weekascope Something New HE many apostles of restlessness are looking about for new changes to suggest, new innovations to introduce. Scarcely a day is allowed to pass without the proposal of another amend- ment to the Constitution, and it seems now that the famous document upon which the structure of our government is founded will eventually be amended out of existence. Not to be outdone, we beg to offer a few suggestions of our ow The Twentieth Amendment—That it shall be illegal for any man, irrespective of race, creed or color, to shave, or cause to have shaven, his neck. The Twenty-first Amendment—That magazine editors shall be required to publish not less than three issues per annum without covers depicting pretty girls whose lips are slightly parted. The Twenty-second Amendment—That the word “jazz” be forcibly evicted from the English language. The Twenty-third Amendment — That song writers who couple “home” with “alone” and “dearie” with “near me” be presented with buckram bound editions of Walker's Rhym- ing Dictionary. The Twenty-fourth Amendment—That all professional re- formers be incarcerated in reform schools. The Twenty-fifth Amendment—That chorus girls in musical shows be prohibited from carrying concealed electric lights about their person for use as surprise novelties on the encores of song numbers, The Twenty-sixth Amendment — That illustrators be com- pelled to read the stories they illustrate. The Twenty-seventh Amendsient—That motorists who be- deck their cars with “ Excuse My Dust” and “ Mohawk Trail” pennants be forbidden the use of any highways, roads, lanes, streets, boulevards, avenues or concourses in the United States. The Twenty-eighth Amendment — That newspaper headline writers be restrained from saying “loot” instead of “steal.” “gems” instead of “jewels,” “parley” instead of “confer- ence” and “slayer” instead of “ murderer. R. E. Sherwood. comicbooks.comy}