Life, 1921-08-18 · page 22 of 35
Life — August 18, 1921 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces reflecting post-WWI American anxieties: **Top cartoon**: A couple argues; the woman asks if she was "right or wrong." The humor relies on the visual joke that she's literally *right*—she's positioned on the right side of the image—making the argument about perspective absurd. **Middle section**: A lengthy satirical "Daily Routine Aboard a Soviet-Run Battleship" mocking Bolshevik ideology. Secretary Denby announced Soviet influence wouldn't be tolerated in the Navy. The piece sarcastically lists absurd inversions of naval hierarchy: officers serving coffee to men, executions as "Happy Hour," torture of captains, and alliances with Sinn Féin (Irish nationalist organization). This reflects 1920s Red Scare fears of communist infiltration. **Lower cartoons**: Standard domestic humor about courtship and marriage dynamics—unrelated to political content. The page satirizes American fears of Soviet-style class revolution threatening traditional military and social order.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
She: Now, George, was I right or wrong about that argument we were having? Plain to Be Seen MY: How did you discover that Millie was in lovewithyou? Arcuige: Why, one day when she called me an idiot I agreed with her, and she got mad. When swearing is made unconstitutional LIFE Daily Routine Aboard a Soviet-Run Battleship Secretary Denby has announced that “soviet rul longer to be tolerated on ships of the Navy. —! M. 9:00. Officers will call men. Officers will personally e serve coffee to men of their divisions in thin china cups, preferably Jamocha blend with fresh cream and lump sugar, Officers will take particular pains not to startle men in waking them. A.M. 10:00. Men will dress. Pipe manicures and barbers, Bootblacks (must be midshipmen) will see that every man’s shoes are thoroughly shined. Valets will collect pajamas and stow them in the pajama nettings. Tailors assemble on fore- castle and be prepared for duty. A.M. 10:45. Chief Pettioffski of the Breakfast Squad of the Committee on Internal Relations will inform the captain what was wrong with breakfast and warn him against repeti- tion of offense. A.M. 11:00. All hands assemble on quarterdeck. Chief Hangman’s Mate Ginsberg will announce officers to be exe- cuted at noon. Compulsory cheering required as officers’ names are called. P.M. 12:00. Happy Hour. Execution of offenders. P.M. 1:00. Turn to for officers. Men may then turn in. Officers below and including ranks of Lieutenant Commander will clean up ship. Particular attention directed to fact that men at leisure must not be disturbed under any circumstances, P.M. 2:30. Luncheon in accordance with menu set forth in Commander-in-Chief of Internal Relations Committee’s let- ter file 789564 dash 44689 dash **. P.M. 3:00. Torture of captain and offending cooks. Band will play “To Hell With Sims” followed by three ruffles and a flourish of knives. Forecastle division will abuse junior officers. P.M. 8:00. Dinner. New committees will be appointed. Ordnance committee will send bombs ashore for use by de- serving comrades without ways or means. Reception to local Sinn Fein organizations. D. E. R. The Confidences of a Modern Child “FT WAS never so tired in my life. I've had a perfectly awful day. But I got Father home safely, and that’s something. It was his annual day to be a boy again, to be a regular pal to me, as he likes to express it. So I have been out in the woods with him. “I inferred from his remarks when he invited me to go that he intended to win my confidence and help me in my troubles. But by noon he had broken his glasses, worn blisters on both heels, scraped his shins, lost his new fishing reel, sunk a row- boat, scalded his mouth, burned his bald spot in the sun and torn the seat out of his trousers, so I think he must have postponed whatever he had to say of an intimate nature. “If writers and lecturers only knew the suffering they bring to impressionable parents by goading them into trying to be their boys’ chums they certainly would cease their efforts out of sheer pity.” Speed at 'AN you support her in the style to which she has been accustomed ?”” “Why, she never wears any style long enough to become accustomed to it!” comicbooks.com