Life — January 27, 1921 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Last Word is 'Grounds'" - Political Cartoon Analysis This cartoon by James Montgomery Flagg depicts two figures in what appears to be a confrontational scene, with the caption "THE LAST WORD IS 'GROUNDS.'" The accompanying text suggests this is commentary on a literary dispute. It references Sinclair Lewis's *Main Street* as "the greatest American novel" and discusses literary criticism. The phrase "grounds" likely contains a double meaning—both the literal coffee grounds visible in the cartoon and the figurative "grounds" (basis/justification) for an argument. The cartoon appears to satirize a disagreement between literary figures or critics, though the specific individuals are unclear from the image alone. The humor seems to rest on this wordplay about having "grounds" for one's position.