Life, 1923-04-12 · page 35 of 40
Life — April 12, 1923 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (circa 1923) contains satirical commentary on the French occupation of the Ruhr Valley—a post-WWI geopolitical crisis. **The Main Satire ("Why LIFE Dislikes the French Occupation"):** Life uses absurdist humor to mock the occupation's consequences for Americans. The list ranges from the serious (increased German war-brides seeking U.S. entry) to the trivial (providing excuses for diplomat George Harvey's speeches, overshadowing Babe Ruth in the news). The joke is that Life finds the occupation objectionable for petty, self-absorbed American reasons rather than legitimate geopolitical concerns. **The General Electric Advertisement:** A direct response to 1920s anti-modernization sentiment, GE sarcastically presents three ridiculous 1816 German arguments *against* street lighting—claiming it violates divine will, increases immorality, and frightens horses. This mocks contemporary resistance to progress while positioning electrification as inevitable modernity. **Overall Context:** The page reflects 1920s American attitudes: detached bemusement about European affairs, confidence in technological progress, and self-focused humor about how world events affect domestic American life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Why LIFE Dislikes the French Occupation of the Ruhr BecavsE— It has increased the’ number of German war-brides in the United States, It | supplied George Harvey with additional excuses for making speeches. It las restored the value-of-the- German-mark joke to good standing. It has emphasized anew our ig- norance of ) Geography. ) History. The Treaty of Versaill It has rehabilitated the official communiqué. It as provoked the New York IVorld to the point of sending Clare ‘ Sheridan on another junket. | No other public improvement makes such a big difference It has almost completely eclipsed for such a little cost as better street lighting. Babe Ruth as a front-page feature. It has apparently made good against the advice of some of the Is it 1816 in your town? most persistent “friends of France. nt of the ownership, management, In 1816 the Cologne Zeitung etc, required by the Act of Con: ANE Y a ¢ Live Aen published seven arguments af New’ York, County of Ne : : : Ore’ me, a notary” pubic in ‘and for against street lighting, of Peeeocatte bo ee as esa which these three are typical: he ig the business manager of LiFe, cae ee cand belief, a true statement of the 1, Artificial lighting is an attempt cation for the ae, Stown in ae to interfere with the divine plan Ia eniiaiod in sete 423, Boal which has preordained darkness ns, printed on the reverse di : th : ht ti : hag the a Your electric light uring the night time. m” ‘ e: a s ublisher, and power company x ss ven : ay a 0. i Madison. Av will tell you how to 2. Illuminated streets will induce G 508 Ma ef yo et in t ith one 5 red is f of the Genecal Elec: people to remain later out of ing ess Managers LeRoy. Millen, 598 S Yau tic Company estrest doors, leading to an increase in and y . ? @) That the lighting engineers. il db 1d. hat ng Company, 598 He knows what other ailments caused by colds. 1eSs Madison Aver New Y N. Ss Stock- communities have oe ; Yea Trene 1. Gibson, done, how they didit, 3, Horses will be frightened and bed : ibson, “Madis n AY to them. thieves emboldened. ains c| > no Geo. Avenue, New = 3 tin, 598 _ Madi Avenue, Ne Provandie, 598 Madi- nue, New York, N.Y (3) That n bondholders, mortgagees and other holders owning or holding one per more total nount of bonds, mortgages, or other securi are: None, (4) That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company, but also, in cases where the stockholder or curity holder appears upon the books of the as trustee o in any other fiduciary ela the name of the person or corpora BORDEAUX, FRANCE. for whom such trustee is acting, is Vermouth of unequalled flavor and blending prop- given; also that the said two paragraphs <actly as made by us since 1857 at Bor- contain ‘statements embracing affiant’s full ; knowledge and belief as to the circumstances Five ounces of pure alcohol removed from and conditions under which stockholders and ch bottle for American use, French or Italian security holders who do not appear upon the style. Demand the genuine at your Dealer's, 5 books of the company as trustees, hold stock “ORIGINAL RECIPES” i and securities in a capacity other than that contains information you will appreciate. Send 25 cents Of 8 bons Bde awners and'this affiant has no 3 reason to believe that any other person, as for your copy and a sample of our famous Vermouth. sociation, or corporation has any interest di- - - rect or indirect in the said stock, bonds or , other securities than as so stated by him. * LeRoy Miller. (Signature of business manager.) ; = | Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th Restaurant & Wine Co., =| day of March, 1923. (Seal). Henry A. 483 W. B'way. Tel. Spring 0044. il || Richter, Notary Public, New York County ti 0 No. 96, New York Register No. 4035. My commission expires March 30th, 1924 comicbooks.com