Life, 1921-02-03 · page 32 of 46
Life — February 3, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains four distinct satirical pieces: **Top cartoons** mock contemporary figures and issues: D'Annunzio (Italian war hero) returning medals suggests political disgrace; "Coaching a Coming Ace" likely references aviation or sports; "Federal Taxation is Vexation" criticizes government tax policy. **Central cartoon** ("All He Needs is the Right Nurse") depicts a sick/dying figure surrounded by men labeled "Reformer," "Legislator," etc., suggesting political reform efforts are insufficient—only proper care (nursing) will help. **"What Is a Liberal?"** uses Columbia University President Butler's critique to argue that self-proclaimed "liberals" lack actual wisdom and discipline, contradicting true liberalism's foundation in knowledge and character. **"The Perfect Suitor"** satirizes modern expectations: the ideal fiancé must be endlessly handy, competent, and accommodating—an impossible standard reflecting post-industrial anxieties about male utility. The final exchange mocks American Legion politics, suggesting veterans should control government spending.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE’S Bi-weekascope COACHING A COMING ACE D‘ANNUNZIO RETURNS HIS WAR MEDALS TO THE KING ALL HE NEEDS IS THE RIGHT NURSE. What Is a Liberal? HAT is a Liberal? The American university president occupics a command- ing position, He speaks before a sounding board which carries his sayings far and wide. From Harvard President E ut- tered many a word of wisdom and of warning. From Yale President Hadley suggested the application of social extraction to “malefactors of large wealth.” From Columbia President Butler has now notified us that the word /iberal is in danger of being diverted to a base use. We all know that words have sometimes in the course of years come to mean the exact oppo- site of what they had meant once upon a time. When Hamlet, for example, says, “I'll make a ghost of him that lets me,” he means “prevents me.” And President Butler calls our atten- tion to the fact that many of those who are to-day boasting that they are “liberals,” are, in fact, shackled by prejudice and fet- tered by theory. President Butler calls attention to the fact that among those who call themselves liberals are not a few “ who favor all sorts of social, industrial, and governmental tyranny, which are by their very nature incompatible with liberty.” He reminds us that “the truly liberal man or woman will be self-disciplined and will aim to make knowledge the foundation of wisdom, to base conduct upon fixed character, and to maintain an even temper.” The trouble with many of those who vaunt themselves to be lib- erals is that they lack wisdom because they know so many things that are not so. They pride themselves on being “ open: minded "—but what advantage is there in a mind that is open at both ends? The house that is “ open for inspection” is gen- erally vacant, and is always to be let for the season. 8, M The Perfect Suitor HE old-fashioned woman whose husband was so handy around the house now has a daughter whose fiancé can insiall base plugs, connect storage batterics and fuses, rescue the family from a short-circuited washing machine, remove barn paint from antique furniture, restore, appraise and talk about it; can frame a print and hang it, fix window weights, adjust ¢ buretors, change tires and large bills, mollify traftic policemen, cook, wash dishes and dogs, fill in at bridge, play the piano, sing, get theatre tickets when there aren't any, and entertain the family’s different relatives without letting them catch on. “PYON'T you think politics should be kept out of the Ameri- can Legion?” “Well, T dunno; sometimes’ I feel that our. soldiers ought to take care of our disabled government.” comicbooks.com