Life, 1921-04-21 · page 22 of 36
Life — April 21, 1921 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American political corruption during the Prohibition era. The main poem describes a visitor to Washington, D.C., initially enchanted by its grand architecture and elegant automobiles carrying well-dressed passengers. The disillusionment comes in the final lines: the visitor reveals these luxury cars actually contain "LOBBYISTS" and "BOOTLEGGERS"—not the respectable diplomats and senators they appear to be. The satire targets the gap between Washington's dignified facade and the actual corruption beneath: illegal alcohol trafficking (bootlegging) and influence-peddling by special interests. The accompanying cartoons use similar humor about deception and hidden truths. This reflects genuine 1920s concerns about Prohibition-era bootlegging networks and lobbying corruption in the nation's capital.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Disillusioned WAS. walking, on a sunny afternoon Under the Elms, along Pennsyl- vania Aver Lined with splendid buildings And pulsating with beautiful motor Cars, In which were women smartly gowned, And men, distinguished-looking and immaculate ; And sight-seeing autos contain- ing cager visitors From the Provinces, Following with enchanted eyes The points of interest and charm- ing panoramas. And I longed to feel once more, like them, That thrill of pride and joy When J first saw Washington, M“?tY OAKMAN sed he heerd a robin last month The noble Capital of my Country, and considerabul intrust wuz stirred up on : : ’ crcount uv its bein’ so early in the season. But when From the Hurricane Deck of a Deacon Whittaker gut to askin’ erbout it, an’ Marty sight-seeing car, LIFE And that in its lovely Palaces dwell the Deadly Vampires of Red Tape, Who lure one on and on, unti He is su miserably enmeshed That he can only be rescued by a Miracle Or by a Chief Executive And now these simple folk Think the luxurious motors hold favored and Royal Women From all the Capitals of the World. Whereas I know that they a only LOBBYISTS, And that those whom they gliding by In handsome limousine: And think to be distinguished Diplomats and Senators, I know, from knowledge de bought, to be only BOOTLEGGERS. Larry Ke wuz a-tellin’ uv him uv the warblin’s and trillin’s, he And before I learned, through let on thet his nateral hist’ry observations wuz made when he wuz a-takin’ hum a jug o’ sider from Dan Turner's. The Deacon finished up his investigatin’ of little robin red-breast by goin’ up to Marty’s an’ samplin’ the evi- dence. He sez he reckons Marty wuz doin’ the heft uv the wobblin! hard experience, That these same Marble Porticoes Hide colleges of War and State Where men are taught the gentle art of Hard to Find LE: What kind of book do you want—fictional, historical, philosophical—? Patron: Oh, any kind that H. G, Wells hasn't written. PASSING THE BUCK; Lrprartan: We have none! eeveniert eas “WOULD YE CARE TO BE IN THOT, JOHN?” “Y’b TRUST ME SOWL TO IT IF IT WAS GOING THOT WAY, BUT ME BOvY—1I DUNNO!” IF DREAMS CAME TRUE CRUEL FATE OF A BIG POLICEMAN WHO BROKE UP THE BALL CAME IN THE BACK LOT. comicbooks.com