Life, 1921-03-03 · page 28 of 38
Life — March 3, 1921 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes political opportunism and embellished résumés. It depicts Harry G. Brink's military record becoming increasingly exaggerated across successive newspaper accounts spanning 1919–1950. Initially a private who never saw combat, Brink's biography inflates with each political advancement: he becomes a sergeant, then lieutenant, then captain, then colonel, finally brigadier-general. His decorations multiply similarly—the French Croix de Guerre appears in every version with escalating honors. The satire targets how politicians exploit war service for career advancement, and how newspapers uncritically perpetuate inflated claims. The "monkeyland" framing suggests the absurdity of this pattern. The cartoon warns readers that candidates' heroic narratives deserve skepticism, as facts become increasingly unreliable the more they're recycled for political benefit. The bottom section is unrelated—a music notation joke about bridge players.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SERVANT PROBLEM IN MONKEYLAND, Will This Happen > (Extracts from the files of the “Podville Weekly Gazette”) January 15, 1919. Harry G. BRINK, son of Postmaster Ezra H. Brink, returned on Thursday from Camp Upton, Long Island, following his demobilization. Mr. Brink was a private in the Quartermaster Corps, and his organization was pre- paring to embark for overseas when the armistice was signed. - . June 3, 1920. Miss Maribel Flower, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jared Flower, and Harry G. Brink, son of Postmaster Ezra H. Brink, were married yesterday at the Congregational Church. . . . The groom is a veteran of the Great War, liaving served as a sergeant of Artillery in France, though the signing of the armistice prevented his organization from getting into action. His regiment was marching into the line just as the war ended. September 5, 1925. Harry G. Brink, son of Postmaster Ezra H. Brink, has announced his candidacy for the state senatorship from this district. Mr. Brink is a hero of the Great War, in which he served as a lieutenant in the Aviation Corps, winning the French Croix de Guerre. August 12, 1930. Senator Harry G. Brink, Repocratic candidate for Con- gress, is a hero of the Great War. Enlisting in the ranks, he rose through the non-commissioned grades to first licu- tenant, and was promoted to a captaincy for bravery on the field of battle. Captain Brink was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the American Distinguished Service Cross for valorous conduct at Chateau-Thierry during the attack on the Hindenburg Line. July 1, 1940. Congressman Harry G. Brink, who recently announced his candidacy for the governorship, will be the speaker at the Fourth of July exercises in Podville this year. Colonel Brink’s notable record in the Great War is already familiar to his fellow citizens. He rose from private to lieutenant- colonel of Infantry in a few months, winning promotion for acts of conspicuous gallantry. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Military Medal and the Ameri- can Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Service Medal. February 26, 1950. . Podville was cast in gloom Thursday when the death was announced of ex-Governor Harry G. Brink . . . General Brink was Podville’s most distinguished veteran of the Great War. Enlisting as a common private, he worked his way up to a brigadier-generalship, commanding a brigade of Infantry in the campaigns of Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne (Flanders Fields), Though modest and rarely scen in uniform, General Brink, had he so de- sired, could have worn the ribbons of the French Croix de Guerre with palm, Military Medal and Legion of Honor, and the American Distinguished Service Cross, all won for acts of conspicuous gallantry on the field of battle. It is claimed for General Brink that he was the only American brigade com- mander who led his troops out of the trenches in person. There Is Strength COUNTRY COUSIN: So you belong to a bridge club, too? Cry Cousin: Well, yes, but not exactly. It’s Local No, 95, National Order of Auction Bridge Players Union, Inc I. andante, sentimentale WW. finale: subito, presto con flioco ‘ ‘hk MoonLicuT SONATA. comicbooks.com