Life, 1920-11-18 · page 17 of 44
Life — November 18, 1920 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks labor union bureaucracy and regulations using biblical apocalypse as its premise. Gabriel, tasked with blowing his trumpet to signal the world's end, is repeatedly stopped by union officials and government regulators demanding licenses, proof of union membership, and verification that his trumpet was made by union labor. The joke: excessive red tape and union rules prevent even the end of the world from occurring. Gabriel cannot join the Musicians' Union until the "next stated meeting," so he abandons his divine mission entirely. The satire targets early 20th-century labor unions—specifically their rigid membership requirements, jurisdictional control, and bureaucratic obstruction that the cartoonist suggests paralyzes progress. The secondary cartoon joke about Johnny Fieldmouse wanting to be a "night watchman in a cheese factory" appears unrelated political or social commentary, though its specific reference is unclear today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE OPENING SCENE OF THEI DIVORCE Postponed HE end of the world was at hand. placed his trumpet to his lips and took a deep breath. Just a minute there,” said an aggressive-looking man, tap- ping Gabriel on the shoulder. “ Have you got a license to blow that horn in the city limits?” So Gabriel procured a license. Gabriel stepped out, Again he started to blow. “Hold on there,” another man demanded. “Let's see that horn. I thought so. Non-union—made in a scab shop. Nothin’ doin’.” Wherefore Gabriel journeyed afar and bought a trumpet made by union labor. For the third time he placed the trumpet to his lips. “Just a minute, just a minute,” a man interrupted. “I'm riding delegate for the Musicians’ Union, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. see it If you've got a card, let's Gabriel searched his robes. He was not a member of the union, and he knew it. Moreover, the riding delegate told him there would be no opportunity for him to join until the next stated meeting. So, disheartened, Gabriel took his new trumpet, wrapped it in the folds of his robe and flew away, That is the reason the world continues to rotate. Tom S. Elrod. “NOW, JOHNNY FIELDMOUSE, 1 WANT YOU TO TELL THE CLASS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GkOW UP.” “Wr, I'D LIKE TO BE 4 ATCHMAN IN A CHEESE comicbooks.com