Life, 1921-06-23 · page 27 of 36
Life — June 23, 1921 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon - "The Acid Test":** A joke about an archaeologist (Professor Deyer) being consulted on ancient hieroglyphics. The humor lies in the speaker's absurd non-sequitur: he asks if the professor would examine his wife's household accounts using the same expert analytical skills. The implication is that her accounting is so incomprehensible it requires archaeological decryption—satirizing wives' housekeeping management as mysterious or chaotic. **"Questionnaire" Section:** This satirizes anti-immigrant screening at Ellis Island by listing absurdly hostile questions ostensibly asked of incoming aliens. The questions focus on anarchist/radical concerns (bomb-making, evading authorities, anti-work sentiment)—reflecting 1920s American anxiety about foreign radicals and the "Red Scare." The satire criticizes this paranoid vetting process as ridiculous. **Other Sections:** Minor humor pieces about miscommunication ("The Interpreter") and social situations, typical of Life's light satirical content. These don't carry significant political weight—they're domestic comedy sketches common to the era's magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
along ntions. [AEE ANRISNS SES EEA “THATS PROFESSOR DEYER, THE ARCHAEOLOGIST. 1 WONDER IF HE'D MIND GLANCING OVER MY WIFE’S HOUSEKEEPING ACCOUNTS.” “py Jove! Questionnaire ew of recent happenings in this country the Ellis Island authorities are said to be adopt- ing a new questionnaire for sub- mission to incoming aliens. Among the leading questions are these: 1. What are the principal in- gredients of a good bomb? 2 Do you favor the time bomb or the fuse variety for work of an intimate nature? 3. What is the best method of duding an officer stationed in front of a sub-treasury building ? A financier’s office? A million aire’s home? 4 Name, without consulting any reference books, ten objec- ons to work, & Give a brief definition of work. (Applicants able to do this will not be admitted.) 6 Name three ways of telling a Secret Service man without looking at his shoes. 7. Explain in your own words why Reds leave home. The Interpreter: THE ACID TEST Mother: TELL WILLIAM HE IS MISTAKEN, HIS DOG ISN'T HERE AND HE SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR IT, HEY! BILL, MA SAYS YE’RE A LIAR, AND YE BETTER CHASE YERSELF OUTA HERE. HE'S AN EXPERT ON HIEROGLYPHIC: Worth Considering HEY were thrown into each other’s socicty in a country house, without common interests or the least attraction for each other, Finally, after casting about fora fertile subject of con- versation, only to fail in every attempt, he said, desperately: “Will you marry me?” She considered long and deeply. “T think I'll say yes,” she re- plied at last. “It will give us so much more to talk about while we're here.” Getting Off Easy GITATED STRANGER: Here, take this dollar, Heap Warter: Yes, sir. Do you wish a table? Acitatep Strancer: Heavens no. But when I parade up here with three girls you just say there isn’t a table left and there won't be one before about next Wednesday noon. comicbooks.com