Life, 1922-12-14 · page 8 of 36
Life — December 14, 1922 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon depicts a conversation between two working-class figures (appearing to be a woman and a man) discussing a sparse Christmas tree. The dialogue satirizes economic hardship: one character defends the meager tree as "economical," explaining its lack of branches reflects their poor financial situation. The cartoon critiques Depression-era poverty by using the Christmas tree as a symbol of diminished resources and lowered expectations. The humor derives from the frank acknowledgment of financial struggle dressed up as practicality. Below this is an announcement for a "Go-Getters" organization's three-day social event in Amityville, New York, listing various business-networking activities and entertainment—representing the aspirational, organization-focused culture of 1920s-30s American civic life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VY Ad Rese — “What yo’ gwine to do wif dat thing?” “Dat’s a economical Christmas tree, Melinda. You see hit ain’t got so many branches fo’ to fill an’ hit’s mo’ in accordance, as it were, wif de state of ouah finances at de present moment.” Go-Getters, This Way! All Aboard for the Big Pep Parade HE Gorgeous Order of Inspired Go-Getters will hold its First Annual Love Feast this year on St. Valentine’s Day, at Amityville, N. Y. Close enough to the “Big. City” to keep in touch with things, but far enough away to be outside its bustle and rush. The Feast will last three days (there’s luck in odd numbers, eh fellows?) and it will be just “chock-full” of “pep” and Big Brother Boosts for Better Business Builders. The tentative program follows: First Day. Morning: Grand get-together and Hello- Neighbor Meeting. Overture, “Say it with Hearts and Flowers Waltz.” Opening prayer by Rev. Dr. Frank Crane. Reading of poem especially inspired for the oc- casion by Edgar A. Guest. Adjourn for luncheon. (Mem- bers will wear badges, showing their nicknames: “Eddy,” “Alex,” “Chief,” “Big Boy,” etc.) Afternoon: Conferences. Golf. Evening: Performance by the Roycroft Players, “A Message to Garcia.” Seconp Day. Morning: Address by Bruce Barton, “ ‘Circumstances ?’ Exclaimed Napoleon, ‘I Make Circum- stances!’ Are You a Napoleon?” Selection by Go-Get- ’Em Trio, “Footwork Makes the Head Work.” At noon each member will ring up another member, and offer to buy him a lunch, to go over some details. Afternoon: Staff meetings, conferences, etc. Golf. Evening: Beefsteak dinner and general “pow-wow.” Roger W. Babson will give a performance of his trained charts, following which there will be a house organ recital. Tuirp Day. Morning: Experience Meeting of Alumni Association of International Correspondence Schools. Exhibit of Coupon Checking by Bernard Ergle, who has read, checked, cut out and mailed 1738 adver- tising coupons in five years, thereby raising his salary to $17.62 a week. Closing address by the President of the Rotary Club, “A Pollyanalysis of Bigger and Better Business for 1923.” Free cigars. Afternoon: Department surveys to gather up a few loose ends. Baseball game: High-Powered Executives vs. Pep-Plus Salesmen. Athletic carnival with Hand- shaking Contest, Desk-pounding Contest, Throwing the Bull, Running and Standing Back-Slapping, Obstacle Race, etc. Prizes of blue vases, bonus checks, and sub- scriptions to the American Magasine. Albert Lutch, of the local Kiwanis, will present each member with a handsome copy of Lincoln’s remark, “We Can Never Succeed Unless We Try,” and the con- vention will close with the Chautauqua Salute, with three long “It-shall-be-dones” on the end. A.C. M. A. comicbooks.com