Life — April 6, 1922 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis The cartoon depicts a man in formal attire and hat being chased by a cow and geese on a farm. The caption reads "Ex-Traffic Cop Takes Up Farming." The accompanying article "Lo, the Poor Congressman" satirizes congressmen being inundated with mail from constituents. The article complains that representatives receive excessive, often trivial correspondence—letters about flowers, vegetables, and personal matters—that distract from serious legislative work. It compares the congressman's predicament to "making bricks without straw." The cartoon likely illustrates this same idea through visual metaphor: just as the ex-cop is overwhelmed by farm animals, congressmen are overwhelmed by constituent demands. The joke appears to be that switching careers (from traffic cop to farmer) doesn't provide escape from chaos and harassment—a commentary on how demanding public service is, or how inescapable life's difficulties can be.