Life, 1921-12-22 · page 13 of 34
Life — December 22, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary and humor typical of *Life* magazine's editorial voice. **"The Movie Finger"** mocks a film director's pretension—he congratulates himself publicly over a minor achievement, then blames a "rotten sub-title" when criticized. The satire targets Hollywood's self-importance. **"Precepts for Patriots"** offers tongue-in-cheek advice about American nationalism, warning against excessive patriotic sentimentality while encouraging genuine national pride. It advises disposing of foreign concepts with dismissive nicknames rather than serious engagement. **The cartoon below** shows Mr. Hicks and an old lady discussing poplar trees. The humor appears to rely on a visual or conversational pun, though the exact joke isn't entirely clear without additional context about what Hicks represents or the implied double meaning.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Movie Finger ELSHAZZAR smiled as his jaded eye drank in the brilliant scene be- fore him. He was about to call the director and compliment him publicly when his glance fell upon the hand- on the wall. “Just as I expected,” he muttered. “Another good picture ruined by a rot- ten sub-title.” Precepts for Patriots N' ) matter what your race or birth- iN place, proclaim long and loudly ou are “American to the core”— this shows that you have learned the language, at any rate. Ii the value of something foreign is being discussed, do not argue the mat- ter: dispose of it with a name—if it is Itali: call it “Wop”; if French, “F ; if German, “Boche”; if Eng- lish, * Limey.” Do not wax sentimental over your home town; this is provincial—speak in generalities, such as “the greatest na- tion on earth,” “America for the Amer- icans,” ete. that -LIFE- If you are present at an international contest in which an American is beaten, insist at once that the contest has been “framed.” Axiom: an American can never be beaten fairly. Maintain stoutly that America is su- perior to every other nation on earth in everything imaginable. If forced to modify this, say “in everything worth while.” Show your love for your country by your contempt for everything foreign— this is what has made the Germans so popular. A. P.S. He Knew A TEACHER read aloud to her class from a primer: ““This is a cow. Can the cow run as fast as the horse? No, the cow cannot run as fast as the horse.’ “Now, Johnnie,” she asked, “can you tell me about it in your own words?” The little fellow said: “Git onto de cow. Ain’t she a beaut? Can she hump herself as fast as de horse? Nit, she ain’t in it wid de horse.” Old Lady: Are those poplar trees? Mr. Hicks. Yes'*m—very! 11 LIFE’S Own Best Seller A Complete Serial Novel in Three Instalments Cuapter I He (To be continued) Cuapter II marries (To be concluded) Cuapter III The End. Normal Condition “Do you think there is an invisible government at work?” “If there is any government at work it is invisible.” THE efficiency expert’s definition of a blotter: Something to pass away the time looking for while the ink is dry- ing up. = or ll ast—~, comicbooks.com