Life, 1921-12-22 · page 4 of 34
Life — December 22, 1921 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Sanctum Talk"** features a conversation between two figures—one identified as "Charlie" (likely a recurring character). The dialogue satirizes WWI peace efforts through dark humor: they propose making the world laugh to end war, suggesting humor as a solution to conflict. The exchange mocks naive optimism about resolving the war through absurd means. **"Finis"** presents a brief rural anecdote about crop damage, offering comic relief. **"Setting Him Right"** depicts a social comedy where a guest mistakes a woman's identity at a party, leading to an awkward correction—standard domestic humor of the era. The large cartoon below shows a military Christmas scene with soldiers and what appears to be wartime satire, though specific context requires clearer identification of the central figure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sanctum Talk ss ELLO, Lrre.” “My s, if this isn’t Charlie Chaplin! What can I do for you?” “I came in to get you to settle this limited armament conference with me —or whatever they call it.” “Just what do you mean by that, Ch: ie?” ‘E ly what I say. Never was more in earnest in my life.” “You alarm me—but go on.” “It’s all quite simple. You've got ‘rains and I’ve got feet; between the two of us we ought to settle anything.” “But that combination won’t get us anywhere.” “Why not? It is true that there are plenty with brains, but they never know enough to shuffle off at the last moment, and that’s what makes war.” “That isn’t all that makes war, Charlie.” “Certainly not! But this combina- tion of you and me has something else that would stop war.” “What's that?” “A sense of humor.” “Are you sure?” “If we hang together.” “What's the program?” “Make ’em laugh. You be as hu- morous as you can and I'll be—well, just myself.” “And then what will happen? “Why, we'll get the whole world— eventually —laughing at itself —and then there'll be no more war.” “Now you're joking.” “You bet I am. Are you with me?” “T should shuffle.” “Then we're off, Lire!” “You lead, Charlie, and I'll follow —and be sure and put your worst foot forward!” T..L.M. Finis bs OW was your peach crop this season?” “Why, a heavy storm blew down fifty per cent. of it. And we'd hardly gath- ered that when another wind came along and took down the remaining fifty per cent.” “Hard luck! with them?” “Oh, my wife ate one and I ate the other.” Could you do anything Setting Him Right “QIR,” said a guest at an evening party, to the gentleman side him, “who is that extraordinarily homely woman in the frumpy gown, over there?” “You are mistaken, sir,” replied the other, walking away. “She is not my wife.” Young Wildcat: Last year I wrote ye fer a autymobile an’ a pet alligator—member wot ye brought me? If ye keep that up, some day ye'll git a sock on the jaw. comicbooks.com 4 rE 7 # y Ea”