Life, 1921-08-11 · page 8 of 40
Life — August 11, 1921 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Sanctum Talks"** features John Roach Straton, a real reform-minded pastor and "trouble-maker," discussing social problems with "Life" (personified). Straton criticizes both secular indulgences and religious hypocrisy, warning against vulgar language and personal moral failings. The satire targets reformers who advocate for others while living questionably themselves. **"The Hen or the Egg?"** presents economic paradox: goods can't be marketed because people lack work, yet work can't continue without market demand. This circular logic critiques Depression-era economic collapse and business inability to break the cycle. The cartoon below shows a clergyman admitting he skips church since becoming a used-car salesman—satirizing commerce-driven morality and those who abandon principle for profit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sanctum Talks I’m John Roach a ELLO, Lire. Straton.” “So you are—pastor, reformer, trou- ble-maker, all-around nuisance and—” “One minute. Are we alone?” “No, sir; you are now talking directly to the largest audience you ever ad- dressed and—” “Fine! Wonderful. Just—” “But you'll have to be careful what you say; you mustn’t be vulgar—just be a bit unnatural.” “I came in to—” “Tell me about the indecencies you have personally witnessed and a lot of other things that aren’t. Thanks, thanks.” “That prize fight—” “Didn’t do Dempsey and Carpentier much harm, even if you were there.” His Clergyman: hypocritical.” “Well, you see, Doctor, since I took up selling used cars I’ve felt that going to church would be kind o! “But think of all the terrible things that are going on; just let me give you a few instances out of—” “Now, now, brother; careful, careful. And, besides, remember that you owe a great debt to all of those things you want to tell me about, personally.” “Now just.what do you mean?” “Why, don’t you see, old thing? Where would you be without them?” The Hen or the Egg? HERE is no market for goods be- cause People are out of work because There is no market for goods because— Hang it—we can’t go on this way for- ever! I haven’t seen you in church lately. “Run for LIFE Now for the Endowment Party ‘HE Fresh Air Farm will for two weeks in August be the host of the children whose annual fortnight in the country is provided by the first two hun- dred Fresh Air Endowments. Next year the Fund will have to have two Endowment parties in order to take care of the additional endowments here- with acknowledged. The Fund has received from Mrs. T. G. Lovelace of Peoria, Ill., funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 202 In the Name of Grapys C. Lovetace From N. S. Lewis of Beaver Falls, New York (in addition to a contribu- tion of fifty dollars for use in sending chil- dren this summer), funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 203 From an anonymous contributor in Ar- lington, Massachusetts, funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 204 In Memory of Saran Jane Hicks From F. B. Strunz, Esq., of Clifton, Cincinnati, Ohio, funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 205 In Memory of “Joun Gitpert”—Strunz From Esther B. Pearson of Sawtelle, California, funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 206 From an anonymous contributor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, funds to es- tablish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 207 In Memory of K. D. T. From Mrs. B. W. Fredericks of New- ton, Massachusetts, funds to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT No. 208 In the name of and to the memory of Gerrruve Kistier. (Continued on page 30) your lives, boys; here come the tanks.” comicbooks.com