Life, 1921-01-06 · page 18 of 44
Life — January 6, 1921 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical pieces critiquing early 20th-century American society: **"The Legal Luminary"** (verse poem by Berton Braley): Satirizes lawyers as morally flexible operators who exploit legal technicalities to help clients evade consequences. The satire suggests lawyers prioritize fees over justice, treating law as a "game" rather than a moral system. **"Accepting a Retaining Fee"** (illustration): Shows a lawyer accepting payment, visualizing the critique above. **"The Chicago Idea"** joke: Mocks Chicago's reputation for corruption, suggesting its schools teach criminality ("robbery, toggery and snobbery") rather than legitimate subjects. **Other brief humor items** address inflation ("luxury of today becomes necessity of tomorrow"), inheritance (inheriting only baldness and debt), and wealth-seeking romance. **"The Safer Way"** (comic strip): Unclear without full visibility, but the title suggests practical advice contrasted with risky alternatives. The page reflects Progressive Era skepticism toward institutions—particularly the legal profession's reputation for enabling wealthy clients to escape accountability through procedural manipulation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ACCEPTING A RETAINING FEE Tracking It to Its Lair | READ to-day of a scale that registers one-thousandth of an ounce.” “At my coal dealer's?” HE luxury of to-day becomes the price-adjustment-sale necessity of to- morrow. Material Possessions “DIDN'T Skidder inherit a lot of things from his father?” “Dear me, no—only two.” “And they were—?” “A bald head—and money.” MarY in haste and repent at Reno. The Legal Luminary E twists the law's legalities With devious technicalities ; He'll show you clear How you may steer Away from criminalities. For law’s a game—he'll play with it, And if you would get gay with it, He'll tell to you The thing to do And how to get away with it. If you're inclined litigiously, He'll see you through religiously In many courts Of varied sorts— And charge you most prodigiously, The law, as he affects it, is A thing of deep complexities That loops and swerves In kinks and curves, Concavities, convexities. His mind has versatility, And’ with the same agility He'll jail you tight Or free you quite, Such is his mutability. And where, in this processional, Does Justice show progression? All Such talk as that, I'll tell you flat, Is highly unprofessional! Berton Braley. The Chicago Idea? . HERE school?” “In Chicago.” “What is he studying?” “ Robbery, toggc does your son attend and snobbery.” Howaro: I hear Schuyler is ccono- | mizing . Jay: Yes, he doesn’t pay any attention to a girl now unless she can entertain him at dinner. NNOUNCEMENT of winners in Lire’s Title Contest next week The Safer Way comicbooks.com