Life, 1922-06-15 · page 14 of 36
Life — June 15, 1922 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces. The top section is a bedroom dialogue between newlyweds Benedict and Mrs. Newleigh, where they argue about their wedding anniversary date—she claims June second, he insists June third. The humor derives from marital miscommunication and the husband's dismissive attitude toward what should be a meaningful date. The lower illustration depicts sailors aboard a ship, with a captain instructing crew to shift cargo aft to avoid violating a three-mile territorial limit—likely referencing smuggling or illegal cargo transport during Prohibition era. The satire mocks attempts to circumvent federal law through technical loopholes. Both pieces mock human folly: domestic forgetfulness and legal circumvention schemes.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Twin Bed-Time Stories Benedict Is Wrong CENE: The Bedroom of the Benedict New- leighs. To those who are unfamiliar with him, Benedict may seem to be asleep. But his wife knows better. Mrs. NEWLEIGH (tears are in her voice) : Benedict! (No response. The tears are now falling to the accompaniment of low sobs.) Benepict (having ignored the noises as long as he deems advisable): What's the trouble, honey? Mrs. Newtetcu: E-everything! Benepict (heaving a mock sigh of relief): That's for- tunate. I was afraid for a moment that it was some- thing serious. Mrs. NEWLeIGH (the competition between her words and her sobs becomes more intense): Oh, you brute! You wouldn't care if I lay here dying! Benepict: If you're dying, Leila, I want to hear about it. What's the principal thing that’s wrong? Mrs. NewLercH: You don’t even know yet! day is to-day? Benepict: June second until midnight, standard time. Let's get to sleep, dear, before June third. Mrs. NEWLeIGu (with repressed feeling in her voice): And doesn’t June second mean anything to you? Benepict: For Heaven's sake let's not talk in riddles. What Mate of the Mildred Louise, bootlegger: Mrs. New eicu (coldly): To-day was our wedding anniversary. Benepict (momentarily nonplused): Why—why—no it wasn’t either. If that isn’t just like a woman! We were married on June third, and here you ar raiding me because I didn’t think it was the second insicad, Mrs. NEWLEIGH (addressing an invisible son): Oh,—he can’t even remember the date! Benepict: It’s something I couldn't ever { was June third, I tell you. Mrs. Newtercu: It wasn’t. Benepict: It was! I'll go look in the fa: and prove (He climbs out of bed with n ing and lea the room. In a few minutes |) and crawls silently between the covers again.) Mrs. Neweicu: Well, are you going to «pologize? Benepict: Of course not—you were wrong. We were married on June first. Mrs. NEWLEIGH (she has a good constitutio bursts ‘out weeping with more enthusiasm thi Oh-h-h, and you-u n-ever remembered it at all now it’s too late— BeNeEpIcT (in muffled tones): Happy dreams, honey. (A quick and merciful curtain.) hird per. get! It ly Bible mutter- returns for she ever): I! And Yes, it is aw/ully late 7. L; A dead calm, sir, and I regret that the fore part of the ship is within the three-mile limit. Skipper: Why, good gracious! Mr. Mate, you don’t say so! Kindly pipe all hands and ask if they’ll please shift the cargo aft. comicbooks.com