Life, 1923-11-15 · page 25 of 40
Life — November 15, 1923 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical short pieces typical of Life's humor section: **"Life Lines"** is a column of brief quips mocking contemporary issues: diplomatic tensions with Britain, American tourists abroad, family stability, gasoline prices, Henry Ford's influence, Eskimos learning English, women's spending on hosiery, and a Caliph banishing a dentist. These are lightweight social commentary. **The main cartoon** shows a portly official labeled "OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT," satirizing anxieties about radical political activity. The figure appears menacing to observers, but the joke suggests government opponents are actually ineffectual or imaginary threats—reflecting post-WWI American concerns about communism and anarchism. **"The Scales of Injustice"** is a humorous story about Mrs. Teddy Meyers rejecting successive scale readings that show her gaining weight, ultimately breaking her bathroom scale in denial. The moral humorously asks "Why are scales?"—suggesting women's frustration with evidence of weight gain. **"Not a Selling Point"** jokes about car marketing: a salesman's pitch about luxurious cushions backfires when a lady prefers visibility, suggesting women valued conspicuousness in public.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Lines NOTHER British note has been +4 received by the State Department. t is to be hoped the document will not treated as a scrap of Papyrus. rhe United States is looking for an mbassy building in Paris. It would ve time for a lot of American tourists they just located in Maxim's. aL ie modern definition of an old family one which has stuck together more in a year. JL There is some satisfaction in know- , when you are overcharged for gaso- «, that the money will be used for ilanthropy. I JL \ccording to some Ford fans, the only I y you can lick Henry is to put his ce on a new postage stamp. he Eskimos are reported to be making reat strides in learning the English Some of the more advanced e already mastered the re- tudent: cipe for Considering the price some women pay silk hosiery, they must be up to knees in debt. aL sy order of the Caliph, the state dentist from Con- got on the 1s lately been banished He probably Caliph’s nerves. tantinople. The least we can reasonably expect of our statesmen is that they will postpone the next war until all the scandals of the last one have been properly in- vestigated. aL For the present the proper form of presentation is: “I wish to introduce you to Senator Blank, father of Half- back Blank.” Feminine Voice: 0H, HARRY, I'VE DROPPED MY BEADS! “OVERTROWIN’ THE GOVERMUNT.” The Scales of Injustice RS. TEDDY MEYERS stepped out of the gym plunge and onto the scale. The bad news was one hun- dred and seventy pounds. “That scale is all wrong,” said Mrs. Meyers. On her way home she stopped at a free scale in front of a drug-store. It raised the ante three pounds. “That can’t be right,” was all Mrs. Meyers could say. She stopped at a grocery store, and while the clerk was doing up her par- cels, she tried the Fairbanks scale. The Fairbanks scale agreed that the gym scale was right. “Never!” said Mrs. Meyers. That night she stepped rather heavily on her bath scale. She broke it. “How poorly these things are made!” exclaimed Mrs. Teddy Meyers. Moral: Why are scales? E..J..E. Not a Selling Point GENT: Madam, you will sink nearly out of sight in the luxurious cushions in this new car. Lapy (decisively) : No. When I ride in a new car I want to be plainly visible. comicbooks.com