Life — April 19, 1923 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon disguised as an ancient Egyptian artifact. The title "Nor-mal-cy I" is a pun on "Normalcy"—likely referencing President Warren G. Harding's 1920 campaign promise of a "return to normalcy" after World War I. The cartoon depicts a central figure (possibly representing Harding or his administration) juggling various concerns: hieroglyphics on the walls suggest ancient wisdom being ignored, children appear confused, birds march along the bottom, and scattered symbols reference contemporary issues. The satire works by presenting recent political events as if they were ancient history—implying Harding's policies are as outdated as Egypt. The "dug up" framing suggests these incidents are already archaeological relics, mocking both the administration's approach and the magazine's concurrent Egyptian-themed issue.