Life, 1921-04-14 · page 13 of 36
Life — April 14, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a woman showing a man a piece of taffy near a radiator. The caption reads: "I've got a piece of taffy for ye in me pocket, Kitty, but I can't get it out. Guess I stood too close to the radiator." This is a straightforward visual gag playing on the fact that taffy becomes sticky and adheres to fabric when heated—the man's candy has literally melted into his pocket lining from standing near a heat source. The humor relies on the physical properties of the candy and the awkward situation it creates. The surrounding text includes unrelated satirical pieces on motorist expenses, political humor, and social commentary typical of Life's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“'VE GOT A PIECE OF TAFFY FOR YE IN ME POCKET, KITTY, BUT I CAN’T GET IT OUT. GUESS I STOOD You cannot imagine how wonderful a drive may become when in the discretion of a motor cycle policeman, five miles an hou iy be deemed a rate of speed great- reasonable and proper. 1 word as to the cost of a motor Southern California. Much de- pon the tourist himself. From ten uy dollars a day may be reckoned r average for the motorist of ordi- ieans—although this estimate may sibly reduced by talking back to the ind not getting the option of a fine. | expenses and the cost of gas, oil and tires are of course not included. Should the tourist keep his car in Cali- fornia longer than three months, it will essed as personal property by the ithorities and a tax bill forwarded to the tourist at his Eastern address. Then, if the car is no longer in the State and the tourist has no other personal prop- erty there, it is recommended that he re- TOO CLOSE TO THE RADIATOR.” turn the bill to the local authorities with an insulting letter. This may be done by praising the climate of Florida and refer- ring to the San Francisco earthquake as an earthquake and not a fire, or better still, let me write the letter. I would en- joy doing it. Cum Laude OLITICAL BOSS: So you wish to politics, What your qualifications? Lapy AppLicant: Well, I have served three terms as a member of the Board of Education, enter madam. are At Present HE ELDER: forget ideals as you travel through life. Tue Youtn: What are ideals? Never your “CAN your wife sing?” “No; but she does.” Song of the Desert H, why should the spirit of mortal Be more than eight dollars a quart, While bootleggers snicker and chortle And officers drag us to court? A cocktail costs more than a Bible; A snifter costs more than a hat. The price of the ginger-ale highb’ll Is making the profiteers fat. They say the old times are returning, That wiggle and wobble are dead, Yet, daily, in spite of our yearning, Buns grow more expensive than bread. R. S. T. Straws ED: Things are gradually getting back to normal. Nep: There's no doubt of it. The waiters once more thank you for a quar- ter tip. comicbooks.com