Life, 1920-12-23 · page 15 of 44
Life — December 23, 1920 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon: "The Nightly Line"** Shows a schoolteacher conducting children in what appears to be a recitation or lesson. The caption presents a joke about bath time ordering: "What, Oscar, is the ancient order of the bath?" Young Oscar answers with a sequence of children's names (Johnny, Willie, the baby), misunderstanding "order of the bath" as a literal sequence rather than a historical reference. This is a simple pun—playing on the double meaning of "order" (historical ranks vs. bathing sequence). It's gentle children-based humor typical of Life's satirical style. **Other Content:** The page includes poetry ("A Pennyworth" by Carolyn Hall), satirical definitions mocking social types (intellectuals, teachers, politicians), and a Ford automobile joke. The overall tone reflects early 20th-century genteel American satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Teacher: WHat, Oscar, Young Oscar (pussled): 1 DUNNO. A Pennyworth OVE sat one night on the edge of the sea. With only the candles of the stars To light the world, None knew he cried. Love's tears were bitter because he was poor. “Life is a slot-machine,” he moaned, “And I have no money—no money.” Then the moon slipped out of the purse of the night, Round as a bright, new penny. Love dried his tears, and stared and stared “Why, look,” he shouted and laughed with glee, “Why, look what I’ve found! I'm as rich as can be. There’s nothing at all I cannot buy With this bright gold penny!” Carolyn Hall. OWEVER the voting for the unknown candidates for the Hall of Fame goes, there will be no public clamor as long as they don’t select any Prohibitionists, profiteers, landlords, congressmen or lady golf professionals. “LIFE: THE NIGHTLY LINE THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE BATH? JOUNNY USUALLY COMES FIRST, THEN WILLIF, THEN THF BABY, Diplomatic Definitions LECTUAL.—A deferential gentleman who never ad- Personal NT mits that he knows anything or any subject. Modesty. Apres vous. Fourflushe See reliability; honor; virtue. Teacher—A modern Croesus—one with money to burn. One A lover of nature and home. Sincerity in a sack suit. The ideal trustee of any number of capitalists. See limousine, steam yacht, coupons, government bonds. Politician—A_ far-seeing altruist whose word is his bond; a self-sacrificer. Anyone who considers himself last. Albany and Washington papers, please copy. Apartment—An empty space—a void. Cellar.—Any dry spot. Open and aboveboard. Publicity York.—An Island paradise—the only place in America where one may get something for nothing. Safety first. Bolshevist—A fireside guardian and child protector lover. Beauty without whiskers. toiler, gentleman, altruist. Another Ford Joke “VY/JHY are school-teachers like Ford cars?” Peace Any open works. See “ Because they give the most service for the least money.” comicbooks.com