Life, 1923-10-11 · page 7 of 36
Life — October 11, 1923 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical commentary: 1. **"Overheard at the Moron Club"**: A dialogue mocking the disconnect between industrial efficiency gains and actual consumer prices. The speaker argues that while machinery improves productivity, bills don't reflect savings—suggesting manufacturers pocket profits rather than passing benefits to workers. 2. **"A Suggestion"**: Proposes using radio broadcasts for family dinner-hour public service announcements with mundane etiquette reminders ("don't fill up on crackers," "take your spoon out of your cup"). It's satire on radio's potential being wasted on trivial matters. 3. **The lower cartoon** depicts a horse-drawn vehicle meeting an automobile, with the caption joking about accident liability—suggesting anxieties about new automotive technology and property damage disputes during the automobile's early adoption period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ing, ma- ace LIFE Overheard at the Moron Club “YY7ONDERFUL the way science and invention are increasing man’s productive powers, isn’t it? Here's Dr. Steinmetz predicting that improved machinery and electric power will give the workers a four-hour day.” “Maybe so, but what bothers me is, the more efficient our mills, factories and railways become, the more the price of 1s and freight rates go up. We've had a heap of wonderful inventions that were going to make things cheaper, but my bills don’t show it.” : t’s all on account of the overhead. You see, just as iast as somebody invents a machine or process to cut doy: production costs, another fellow invents a new syst.m for calculating fixed charges, operating expenses, and profits, that makes it necessary to put up prices. Looks as though the man who invents the reasons for high>r prices is keeping about two jumps ahead of the higher efficiency bunch.” W.G. A Suggestion [ S high time that radio ceased to be a public plaything and was turned to some really useful purpose. For instance, eyery evening, between the hours of six and seven, the following should be broadcasted at intervals into every family dining-room in the United States: “Eat from the side of your spoon.” “No; you're not going to fill up on crackers and butter.” on’t tell me you washed those hands before you came the table!” lake your spoon out of your cup.” ‘ever mind what's for dessert; first eat your meat and s. The crusts will make your hair curly.” here you go! All over my nice clean tablecloth!” “THERE AIN’T NO CAUSE T’ WORRY, HENRIETTA. Mrs. Plump: wet LL I'VE GOT TO SAY IS, IF WE DO HAVE ANOTHER WAR I HOPE IT IS WITH FRANCE, THE FRENCH ARE $0 POLITE. The Problem “"CHERE must be a great many problems that confront you Polar explorers. What do you consider the most important one?” Exptorer: Getting back. IF THEY HIT YE, YE KIN GIT DAMAGES—AN’ TH’ WORSE YE’RE HURT TH’ MORE YE GIT.” comicbooks.com