Life, 1922-08-10 · page 12 of 36
Life — August 10, 1922 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The central cartoon depicts "Old Bill Nickel," a raggedy, wizened character carrying a suitcase. The caption credits "Elmer Hopkins put up a crowbar for a hen roost an' the rooster liked it fine"—a rural American tall tale suggesting deception or fraud. The surrounding text contains typical Life magazine satirical commentary on contemporary issues: Russian politics (Lenin and Trotsky), Prohibition enforcement, Senate politics, and American business practices. The cartoon likely satirizes either a specific political figure or represents the archetypal "con man" or charlatan—someone selling false promises to the gullible. Without additional context identifying "Old Bill Nickel" specifically, the precise target remains unclear, though the shabby appearance and deceptive framing suggest mockery of fraudulent schemes common in 1920s America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
INERS and railroad men bear a striking resemblance nowa- days. aL A Frenchwoman has been re- warded by her government for bravery in 1871. This is The time has come when Russia must either float a loan or sink alone. aL Lenine and Trotzky apparently want to eat their cake and give the check to the Allies. Wouldn't it be a smart trick for Hearst to further his political chances by ordering his own newspapers to come out against him? aL The present unrest in Europe will be settled just as soon as the somewhat in line with our own bonus arrangements. aL H. G. Wells is being urged to stand for Parliament. The question is, will Parliament stand for H. G, Wells? JL It appears that they intend to fight it out along the rail- road lines if it takes all sum- mer, aL Evidently the Prohibitionists are of the opinion that we should call the ocean liners steamsips. aL The Administration, szys Sec- retary Hughes, is getting some results that weren’t- expected. But some of the more venge- ful Democrats rather hoped for them. aL Perhaps President Harding now would rather be right, too. aL The: bobbed hair craze has made it almost impossible for a man to get a seat in a barber shop. aL The Georgia Senate is con- sidering a bill to make hus- bands tell their wives the truth. But then, probably, there wouldn’t be any Georgia Senators. Old Bill Nickel Elmer Hopkins ‘put up a crowbar for a hen roost an’ the rooster liked it fine Irish Free State and the Zion Republic form an alliance, JL Put two and two together and you've got the beginnings of almost any good homebrew recipe. aL AU. S. Senator is like a ball player. When he outlives his usefulness he is put on the bench. aL Truth (as everybody had ex- pected) was in due course found lying at the bottom of a well. “You see,” she apologized, “it was the only way | could keep at a safe distance from those dreadful oil stock pro- moters.” -L There, there, little law, don't you cry; You'll be unconstitutional by and by. -L Bridegrooms may _ console themselves with the thought that the first hundred biscuits are the hardest. JL Perhaps the British should not blame our Anti-Saloon League for the American dry propaganda in that couutry It may be that our moonshine interests desire to eliminate | foreign competition. aL It is getting so these days that the automobile factories cannot turn out cars fast enough to supply the demand from the thieving in- dustry ! LL A man in Philadelphia threw a dangerous electric switch just for the fun of starting a fire. A short circuit and a merry one! : Conan Doyle says that there is plenty of liquor in the spirit world, This explains what is meant by The Happy Medium. aL Certain educators ask that laundry work be taught in the schools. But maybe the pin industry couldn’t stand the strain. As the returning tourists enter New York Harbor, an appro- priate tune for the ship’s band to play would be, “Smuggle Up a Little Closer.” aL Europeans may or may not be able to appreciate Art more than Ameri- cans, but apparently the Americans are the only ones able to pay for it. comicbooks.com