Life, 1921-04-07 · page 11 of 38
Life — April 7, 1921 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a large elephant being measured by a small woman (labeled "Madame Monke") while a monkey watches from above. The caption reads: "SORRY, MRS. ELEPHANT, BUT WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS THIS MORNING. OUR SURVEYOR'S GANG IS AWAY ON THEIR JOB." This appears to be satire about *Americanization* efforts among immigrant communities. The surrounding text discusses debate over whether to "Americanize" lower-class populations. The elephant likely represents an outsider resisting measurement/assimilation, while the surveyor's absence suggests the measurement/standardization of foreign groups cannot proceed. The cartoon mocks both overzealous Americanization advocates and resistance to such efforts, playing on the absurdity of trying to literally "measure" people into conformity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Madame MORNING, work, too, I'm very, very much involved in Americanization work, you know. | belong to three different societies that are Americanizing everybody just as fast as they can, and nearly all my other organizations have Americanization Committees, tou. But some of the Lower Classes, when you visit them in their tomes and ask them if they don’t want to be Americanized at once, are really quite rude. Papa is quite angry with me. I got a cheque from him to be used in my Americanization work, and then I gave it to one of my Soviet groups—they seemed to want it so badly—and Papa seems to think the two Causes conflict with each other. He doesn’t understand that Love harmonizes all things! To the superficial mind, they are in conflict, of course. But, of course, the thing to do is to form Soviets, and then Ameri- canize the Soviets—or vice versa—and then gradually the whole country will be both Americanized and Sovictized. Really, you know, it is quite the thing these days to contribute to the Soviet cause in this country. Some of the Very Best People do it. \ren’t the Russians wonderful! Though, of course, as I said before, they might be dangerous. One must take their radical doctrines . . . well, in moderation, don’t you think? Like Eugenics, you know. Eu- genics is a wonderful idea, but it must be taken in moderation ! Sees SORRY, MRS. ELEPHANT, BUT WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS THIS OUR SURVEYOR’S GANG IS AWAY ON AN OUTSIDE Jou. Moderation! Isn't it marvelous! If comes from Inner Harmony—from Poise, if you get what | mean From Cosmic Poise! Nearly every night before | go to bed | ask myself: “ Have 1 been Poised to-day? Have | shown Poise, Cosmic Poise, or have I failed?” Don Marquis. Overworked MA8EL: Oh, but I wish I had a nice big car, with blue plush upholstering and all the modern appliances. Autce: You'd take me out with you, if you had, wouldn't No. “Well, why not?” “Why, you're perfectly capable of doing your own wishing, aren't you?” In Conference CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR (just nominated) : pose to take a firm stand in favor of more parks for the I pro- people. CampaicN Manacer: Good! That ought to get you the solid nursemaids’ and highwaymen’s vote. Movlsc day comes on May tst, but every day in the year is movie day comicbooks.com