Life, 1923-10-25 · page 6 of 34
Life — October 25, 1923 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satire: 1. **"Petroleum from Fish"**: A mock-serious article mocking oil-stock promoters who defraud poor people by claiming fish contain extractable oil. The satire is that investors later discover the "lubricant" came from stingrays, and the poor fish victims unknowingly financed the scheme. 2. **"The Great American Song"**: A humorous recipe-style piece satirizing patriotic sentiment by treating American identity like food preparation—mixing regional references ("Bluebirds," "different States"), popular songs ("Now you're sorry"), and colloquial expressions into one consumable product. 3. **"Overlooking a Bet"**: Criticizes the Associated Press for incomplete reporting—specifically that they omit controversial statements (like a governor's opinion of the KKK) from news coverage, thereby failing to inform the public fully. The moose-hunting cartoon below satirizes hunters' misguided aims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE “HAVE YOU STILL GOT THE SAME LAST YEAR?” I WORE THE POOR OLD THING OUT. NOW I'VE GOT THREE WORKING IN EIGHT-HOUR SHIFTS.” CHAPERON YOU HAD “NO, MY DEAR, The Great American Song 'AKE a heart. Bust it into slivers. Patch it together with the love of an Old Pal or Buddie. Strain the relations with “Now you're sorry, ain’tcha?” Sprinkle with Bluebirds and different States’ names. Add plenty of pep and a dash of salt tears. Let dry and serve with a banana. ea l[R out Petroleum from Fish 'HE relation between oil and fish is well known. Qil- stock promoters spend their time looking jor suckers, and records prove that their search has not een in vain. Many poor fish show their oil stock proud!y to their friends, not realizing that the oil in the transaction is that extracted from their savings. The process is lubri- cated with the whale-oil soap so freely poured on bh promoters. the The buyer later becomes aware that the lubricant really came from the sting-ray, especial! he notes the prickings of conscience that come on } like a rash when he finds he must go home and tel lady-fish what became of the money. Oil is obtained from the human fish by a refined process, and that lea-ned professor has tardily discovered what the poor fish i found out only after it was too late. as im his iso Overlooking a Bet How the Associated Press Could Make Itself Keully Quite Popular. IF in its reports of the Governors’ conference on Prohi- bition it would give a full account of what the Governor of North Carolina said to the Governor of South Caro/ ina. If its accounts of the accompanied by what players between halves. football really leading the coaches games \ said to If it would furnish the nation with Governor Walton's opinion of the Oklahoma Klan as expressed by himself unofficially. Guide: AIM FOR HIS SHOULDER! Excited Hunter: SHOULDER! IT’S HIS ANTLERS I WANT. comicbooks.com