Life, 1920-11-04 · page 42 of 60
Life — November 4, 1920 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (circa 1920s) mixes satirical commentary with advertising. The main cartoon, "The March of Progress," is a cynical timeline showing societal decline: **1880-1923**: Each decade's slogan progressively worsens—from "The public be damned" to finally "Let us prey" (pun on "pray"), suggesting capitalism and class conflict have corrupted society. The trajectory mocks the notion of progress itself. Other brief jokes mock pretension (a snobbish woman), failed educational systems (cigarette companies once included chromos/pictures as educational material), and Irish-American stereotypes in the courtroom scene. The advertisements are period-appropriate: cigarettes marketed as refined, hair tonic promising vitality, and art schools promising commercial success. The overall tone reflects 1920s Progressive Era skepticism about whether modern capitalism and materialism actually constituted genuine societal improvement—a sharp social critique wrapped in humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
830 OUR FOOLISH CONTEMPORARIES eae |), {)\ DEITIES Here He Is Again 4, y . 7% There was a young snes benighted, fi The Utmost in garettes He never knew when he was slighted | q Plain End or Cork Tip He went to a party And ate just as hearty As if he'd been really iavited. sTiepi, | ; = = People of « culture and Our Defective Educational System | a ——f nement invari iabls “Everything's too high,” explained the \ wae corner tobacconist. “A few years ago we ‘ 2 "REFER_ Deities could afford to put out chromos of Ethel u to any other cigarette. Barrymore and Jim Jeffries with a pack of cigarettes. Well, they've cut out the pic- tures now, and how's a kid going to get an education?"—New York Sun. Information “T should like to go to New York,” said the weary and subdued traveler. “Are you asking for information,” said the young woman at the desk, “or are you merely telling your troubles?” —Woshington Star. Imagination “Do you remember when you were first The March of Progress struck by my beauty?” The public be damned—1880. “Yes, dearest. It was at the masked — | To hell with labor—1890. ball."—Sun Dial, To hell with labor and the public—1900 To hell with capital—t910. To hell with capital and the public—1o20. To hell with capital, labor and the public —192: 3 bi id land, COMMERCIAL “Let us prey."—Times of Cubs. Wore they sora aa dec Where the white fog never blows, Breaking into Prin Where the women wash the clothes | “So y @ into Print We" —From the Big U, published on boerd So you got your poem printed? eee Uk “Yes,” replied the author. “I sent the PROPERLY TRAINED EARN first stanza to the editor of the Correspond ence Column with the inquiry, ‘Can any- $100 A WEEK UP YSELIEE!| oresvemente rat arta men?” Ther SST) A A DDE RINE a Department of the Meyer Both Company) offers I sent in the complete poem over another it you a different and practical training. If you like to name!""—Christian Register. —_—__ \ draw, develop your talent. Study this practical course:-taught by the largest and most widely known Commercial Art Or- tisieposie the field with 20 years’ succes Sure Enough Stops Hair Coming Out—Wondetff over 12,600 commer . e T pald give you so wide an experience? “What is considered a good score on 9 C lure ta a Dastness necessity: hat is: 5 Stimulating Tonic demand for commercial artists 1s great these links? STE Tent Yoters shortsee acute. tee ¢ “Well, sir,” replied the youthful caddie bi ton equaily solemnly, “most of the gents tries to do it eet hy. Ceipponty a in as few strokes as they can, but it gin'r'lly — for half the cost of mailing—4 cents in Stamps, takes some more.”—Windsor (London). eye BOTH COLLEGE COMMERCIAL ART . . N. E. Cor. Michigan Ave. at 20th St. A Fair Trial . Devt. 13 CHICAGO, ILL, Prisoner: Sorr, I object to Mr. Clancy —_— — servin’ on the jury. Send fora Complete Catalogue of | Mr. Ctaxcy: Bedad, an’ for why, MASONIC BOOKS Michael? I'm for yez!—Punch, Jewelry and Goods) “Yes,” said the snobbish young lady, “I a eee realize that it takes all kinds of people to make a world, and I can say I am very glad Publishers and Manufacturers | Lam not one of them.” <4 hrs bet 200 Fifth Avenue, New York —American Legion Weekly. | }) FOR _g MEN OF BRAINS — As a rule when your wife has something A few cents buys a bottle of “ander E she wants to talk to you about, she wants to Aes an application of * Dansderine’ yous = talk to you about something. she. doesn't ind a fallen hair or any dandruff, bes -~MADE AT KEY WEST — have—Cincinnati Enquirer. hair shows new life, vigor, brightness, more sand thickness.—Any drug store. ; XUM comicbooks.com