Life, 1923-09-20 · page 13 of 36
Life — September 20, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes **engine trouble in naval vessels**. Two naval officers in dress uniforms stand before a large naval gun or engine component in what appears to be a ship's interior. The humor relies on **understatement and bureaucratic absurdity**: when asked "how's things below, Lieutenant?" the junior officer responds casually—"Oh, all right, but we're having a little ensign trouble"—when he clearly means serious mechanical problems (likely a malfunctioning engine). The joke plays on the double meaning: "ensign trouble" sounds minor (ensigns are low-ranking officers), but the context of visible ship machinery suggests genuine equipment failure being minimized through military language and tone. This reflects early-20th-century satirical humor about naval incompetence or maintenance problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Blame America First *HEBES, Egypt, 1424 B.C. The defeat of the Egyptian armies in lia is giving grave concern to our ited ruler Amenophis IV. He is ised by the high priests that the orable condition of affairs is due the failure of America to be dis- ered. neveh, 606 B. C. The threatened sion by the Medes and Chaldeans caused a patriotic uprising in Empire. will be sent in search nee of the It is rumored an emba Ameri 5 B.C. The unprovoked ision of Britain by the ferocious nans is regarded by the Britons something that simply isn’t good don m. The matter will be submitted \merica as soon as that country liscovered. Attila the million death and ruction into the Frankish nation. royes, Gaul, 451 A, D. 1, with half a ngols, is carrying savage urgent appeal to America to in- LIFE tervene will be sent by the Franks and Visigoths. Bannockburn, Scotland, 1314 A. D. 100,000 peace-loving Englishmen, vis- iting Scotland for the salmon-fishing, are threatened by 30,000 infuriated Scots. This unfair attack could have been prevented had America joined the League Against War. St. Helena, 1816. In an interview given exclusively to the correspond- ent of the New Bedford Mercury Mr. N. Bonaparte said: “If America had only sent me 200,000 soldiers I would have won at Waterloo, and the Empire would now be ready for the next war.” W. G. Lie to Me IE to me, and lie to me, And lie to me again. Lies are no anomaly, Lies are old as men. Lie to me, and lie to me, But this-I ask of you: Never, steeped in falsity, Utter what is true. RLS. IN THE NAVAL RESERVE Beware! WANT you to meet a cousin of mine. She’s an awfully sweet It's real home- brew. “You “Yes, it’s absolutely brand-new, eight cylinder, seven passenger, and One hundred dol- have wonderful eyes.” never been used lars.” “You've been the one man I've al- ways admired and respected above all the rest of the crowd. Now, I was wondering if——" “I know where you can buy it for thirty dollars a case.” “You days. Room.” must We'll stop over for a few give you the Pink “It’s a sound proposition, and I can let you in on the ground floor.” Won't you dine with us on Thurs- day?” “Now, I know a system that simply can’t be beaten.” Deck Officer (to Chief Engineering Officer HOW’S THI “OH, ALL RIGHT, BUT WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE ENSI BELOW, L TROUBLE. comicbooks.com