Life, 1922-03-02 · page 14 of 34
Life — March 2, 1922 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces: **"The Manager to the Playwright"** (top): A caricatured theater manager dismisses the concept of "satire," claiming he judges performers by crude physical characteristics rather than artistic merit. The satire targets philistine entertainment producers who lack sophistication. **"How I Told My First Lie"** (right column): Various professionals—a Doctor, Lawyer, Psychoanalyst, Diplomat, Chronic Liar, and Honest Man—each justify their first dishonesty through self-serving rationalizations. This satirizes how different professions rationalize deception as necessary or justified. **"His Domestic Instincts"** (bottom): A small boy asks an elephant keeper for a cookie, calling them "home-made." The humor lies in the boy's naive domesticity juxtaposed against the wild animal—a gentle, whimsical piece rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
How I Told My First Lie “VT was this way,” said the Doctor, “My star patient was getting bet- ter. Rather than lose him I decided an operation was necessary. You may call that lying if you like, but the operation was necessary—for me.” “My client confessed his guilt to me,” said the Lawyer, “but for professional reasons it seemed unwise to lct the a case go by default. So I took it into \ court and won. For all we know, client may have lied to me. events I needed the money.” “My first lie,” said the Psychvana SU yst, “came as the result of an ac e lation of inhibitions and_ repre-sions 2 dating back to infancy. Need [ go farther? I love the truth, but, oh, you di libido!” : “My first lie,” said the Diplomat, “was merely preliminary to my second, ‘i which, as you may recall, enabled me v0 to pull a nation out of a most embar- he rassing predicament. To do this it was first necessary to create the predica- tu JANES MONTCOWERY FLAG ment. Was I justified? History shall in be my judge.” ‘i The Manager to the Playwright “T never tell a lie,” said the Chronic Liar, “unless it is absolutely necessary. lie “Me not know a ‘satire’? Stuff! And,” he added thoughtfully, “i lei s ‘en almost always is.” I know what he is well enough— “My first lie?” said the Honest Man va He don’t wear a coat, “You may quote me as saying that | ve He’s got legs like a goat have yet to tell it—and when I do, it An’ he treats forest ladies real rough!” won't be for publication.” we co loc I St wi int you like His Domestic Instincts . Small Boy (to elephant keeper): Can't I give him just one cookie? They’re home-made. tur comicbooks.com