Life, 1922-04-20 · page 7 of 34
Life — April 20, 1922 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"The New Transmutation"** mocks the Seputcher Whiting Company's claim to have created a "glistening, non-corrosive covering for all traders or punishable exteriors" for political purposes. The satire suggests politicians use such whitewash to obscure scandals. The piece lists absurd product names (like "Billy Sunday Polish" and "Anti-Saloon League Kalsomine") to ridicule the era's reformers and their rhetorical tactics. **"Are Congressmen Intelligent"** presents a mock questionnaire supposedly submitted to Congress by Mr. Edison, filled with practical questions about costs and efficiency—sarcastically implying Congress cannot answer such basic calculations. **"Conclusive Evidence"** (the cartoon) shows an asylum visitor questioning the warden about an inmate's sanity. The punchline—"He lost money in the butcher business during the war"—suggests wartime profiteering was so rampant that *not* getting rich seemed insane.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Transmutation HE Sepulcher Whiting Co., Inc., announces that it is ow prepared to furnish a glistening, non-corrosive g for all tawdry or repulsive exteriors. merly this concern devoted itself exclusively to the production of a special whitewash for political purposes, but it has broadened its field in answer to widespread de- mands for its services. Addition of several departments has made its products available to new clients. Baseball clubs have found the Landis Mixture, judicially applied, invaluable for laying the dust kicked up by scandal. The Hays Coating, Cabinet Finish, is being used now by picture promoters to dull the gleaming gilding of certain cages. For other special cases the Sepulcher Whiting Co. has d, after exhaustive research, coatings that must prove eous. Examples follow: bling Dens Puritan Veneer, Rhode Island Brand e Halls Billy Sunday Polish Wallingford Salve Anti-Saloon League Kalsomine Sex Novels Complex Compound, Freud Tint Hearst Newspapers Canary Coating Remover In addition to the above, the Sepulcher Whiting Co. will be pleased to submit estimates for restoring fallen idols. Ankle braces for clay feet in all sizes. JK dM, j motio’ prepa tine Dens HN] i p nage Uh Are Congressmen Intelligent OME day Mr. Edison will aim a Questionnaire at Con- gress itself. If Congress, as usual, refuses to heed the warning, then let it beg, borrow and steal all the intelligence it can to defend itself against a Questionnaire like this: 1. The District of Ashdump has 300,000 votes divided equally among farmers, bootleggers, ex-soldiers, taxpayers, and Hearst readers. Map out a sure-win election campaign that will (a) cost you less than $300,000, and (b) cost the country less than $300,000,000. 2. Suppose Mr. Ford to run for President. Estimate the number of Ford Owners who will (a) turn out to elect him, (b) turn out to let you pass, (c) turn turtle. 3. Suppose Mr. Ford to be elected President, and the machinery of government to be run by Muscle Shoals water power. Calculate the net saving to (a) the taxpayer, (b) Mr. Ford. 4. If Bonus legislation should come to a dead stop, show how you can budget. ; 5. Without asking a publicity agent, calculate the scrapacity of the Irish Navy. 6. Suppose all the trains to Palm Beach to be pact. would you put through a reservation? 7. How many more blocs will Congress need to insure a complete blockade on all legislation? Richard Buel. How Conclusive Evidence That man in the first cell looks intelligent. What makes you think he’s crazy? Warden: He lost money in the butcher business during the war. Visitor (at insane asylum): comicbooks.com