Life, 1921-06-30 · page 17 of 41
Life — June 30, 1921 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces critiquing post-WWI American conditions: **Top cartoon** ("Customer: Can I See Your City Directory?"): A drug clerk's rudeness backfires—a customer abandons a cigar purchase because the clerk won't help find an address. The satire targets poor customer service and indifference in retail establishments. **"Second-Hand Hospitals"**: A scathing critique of inadequate veteran care. Congress allocated beds for disabled soldiers, but many facilities are "second-hand" (repurposed, inferior), with incomplete capacity and delayed openings. The satire condemns government failure to provide first-class hospitals promptly after WWI, suggesting disabled veterans receive substandard treatment. **Middle cartoon**: Depicts a man switching off lights after being told to do something; the humor plays on misunderstanding. **"Her Choice"** and **"Wallpaper Salesman"**: Brief humorous anecdotes about preference and association of ideas—lighter fare balancing the heavier veteran critique. The page's dominant theme criticizes post-war neglect of American soldiers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Un- Fein Pass sub ie of Park n of ooch- while € are ch ntion uined Avice G. Dove, Customer: CAN 1 SEE YOUR CITY DIRECTORY ? Drug Clerk (peevishly) : 11's 1N BACK, AND UM TOO BUSY NOW TO GET IT. “OH, ALL RIGHT. I WANTED TO BUY TWO BOXES OF CIGARS HERE TO SEND TO A FRIEND, BUT I'D FORGOTTEN HIS ADDRESS, GOOD-BY.” Second-Hand Hospitals “THERE don't seem to be so many Her Choice HAT is a second-hand hospital ? burglaries as there were.” ITTLE Helen's mother had been care- \ report we have received about the “Maybe everything has been stolen.” fully telling her of the expected ex-service men states that the last arrival of the Stork at their home. Congress provided for 7,000 beds for our disabled soldiers, “ but the Helen had shown only a passing interest in the news until ques- tioned as to whether she preferred a little brother or a sister. Her answer was very direct. “I don't } | 3000 beds in second-hand hos- en pitals will not be ready before six E = months or one year, and the 4,000 ¥ > / usds in the new hospitals to be care whether it's a brother or sis- built will not be ready before one ter, but I hope it’s not a cousin.” or two years.” \ second-hand hospital, there- fore, appears to be a place where less than half the needed number of beds is provided. Sceond-hand hospitals appear to be good enough for our disabled soldi nd this two years after ie chamber. the war, when first-class hospitals, Vinbidlaaine i Peers with ample accommodations, could _ ’ Se - ASSOCIATION ot ae is a be provided i jiffy. e au- i ie curious thing. here was WHAT DID HE DO THEN public opinion, “ SWITCHED OFF THE LIGHTS.” bacon because he disliked eggs. (WALLPAPER SALESMAN: Something quiet and sooth- ing, I suppose ? Customer: No, something loud and irritating—it's for the guest comicbooks.com