Life, 1922-07-27 · page 34 of 36
Life — July 27, 1922 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page continues a serialized story mocking Prohibition's unintended consequences. The "Club of Knaves" is a speakeasy disguised as a gentlemen's club, complete with police-uniform-wearing staff and a "cell" motif bar—satirizing the absurd lengths people went to circumvent alcohol bans. The joke's climax: the protagonist's watch goes missing, and when he calls to report it, the staff unhelpfully hangs up. The final caption ("No wonder guests is expected") suggests the club operates as a front for petty crime and theft, not just illegal drinking. The satire criticizes Prohibition itself—by closing legitimate saloons ("the saloons have gone sour"), the law drove patrons into criminal establishments far worse than regulated bars. The casual criminality and lawlessness depicted represent the era's widespread social disorder caused by the alcohol ban. This reflects broader contemporary criticism of Prohibition as counterproductive and corruption-enabling.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IN CLEVELAND ior Courtesy Refinement Convenience Excellent “This Weary Old Earth Must Borrow Its Mirth” has noticed that a good deal of it is bor- | rowed—and sometimes without giving him, credit. Subscribe and get it first hand, original version, as published. Try | it yourself for a year, or Obey That Im- pulse, and for a trial trip, avail yourself | Service and Kitchen -ITS THE HOLLENDEN The Club of Knaves (Continued from page 27) in, showed any excitement. Indeed, it was quite like any gentleman’s club—soft lights, not so soft voices and tobacco smoke. The attendants were dressed in police uniforms. “Makes the boys feel more at home,” explained my host. I fol- lowed him into the bar. This was fitted up attractively as a cell. It was certainly homelike. The drinks were never like home. “Nice place,” I observed, deter- Keeps Tobacco Right |, Det go about with tobacco |) eae Rockets ve us , compact pouch. Simple, sure locking device opens or closes at a touch. Soldat cigar,drug, || department and leather goods | stores. Made and Fally Guaranteed TheF.S. MILLS CO., Inc., Gloversville N.Y. of our Enclosed find One Dollar (Canadian $1.20, Foreign $1.40). Send Lire for the next ten weeks to Special Offer One Year $5 Open only to new subscribers; no subscriptions renewed LIFE, 598 Madison Avenue, New York at this rate, Canadian $5.80 Foreign $6.60 3 mined to show as much sang froid as had hitherto carried me along. “Not bad,” he observed. “Got to have some place to hang out, now the saloons have gone sour.” “Lot of members?” I asked. “Waiting list,” he assured me. “The rules is easy and guests is ex- pected. Now and then a member brings a bull to dinner. We always pretend to mix him up with the ser- vants—same uniform, y’see. Ho-ho.” After the drinks, he showed me about. The cell motif predominated. The library was fitted out like a po- lice court even down to the green lights. It was most cheerful. “Well,” I said finally, “I think I’d better make a break.” “All right,” he said amiably. “But you oughta see the top floor. We got a machine shop up there—and a swell pistol range.” I shuddered slightly, and thanked him for his hospitality. He saw me to the door—to the window, rather. “Come again,” he invited—“any time. Guests is expected.” And he gave me the telephone number. * * * It wasn’t until next morning that I missed my watch. I called up the club. My friend was out. “Yesterday afternoon,” I began, ‘Tue CAREY PRINTING CO. Inc. to the clerk, “I—er—my watch .. “Yair,” he replied, “try and ge § ” And he hung up. No wonder guests is expected, H.W.H. it. ROYAL MAIL to EUROPE “The Comfort Route” The tang of sea air, the jolly hours on deck produce an appetite that Roya! Mail menus never fail to satisfy. “In the cheerful, tastefully decorated dining-room with the attentive steward at your ser- vice, dining the Royal Mail way is pet haps the greatest pleasure of the voyage. Roomy, restful staterooms. Constant personal service. ‘Travel the famous “O" Steamers from Rew kore to FRANCE - ENGLAND - GERMAN Cherbourg Southampton Hamburg “ORBITA” “ORDUNA” “OROPESA’ “ORCA” and “OHIO” (Building) Weekly sallin; from BERMUDA [Weekly sattiogs tron ww York by ARAGUAYA will be resumed in December. WEST INDIES Two cruises de Ture to the West Indies next January and February by the ORCA, 25,000 tons displacement (building) THE ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET (0) 26 Broadway, New York 117 W. Washington Street, Chicago or local agents comicbooks.com