Life, 1923-11-22 · page 8 of 34
Life — November 22, 1923 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **Top Section**: A caricatured portrait of "Slemp, C. Bascom" identified as "Secretary to the President." The accompanying poem mocks him as an unqualified politician who gained his position through party loyalty rather than merit, with the final line sarcastically suggesting a "Coolidge education" as his advantage. **Bottom Section**: A cartoon depicting a crowded hallway outside various professional offices (barber, lunch, dentist, movies, cigars). The caption suggests this cluttered waiting area represents how a "busy man's office" appears to those visiting him—a satirical commentary on inefficiency and poor office management in the early 20th century. Both pieces use humor to critique government incompetence and workplace disorganization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - Out of the Mouths of Babes T is generally agreed that I have a way with children. [ think the secret lies in the fact that I treat them as equals.. I do not “talk down to them,” as the saying is. Still, I must admit that it is not so easy to converse with the little toddlers as it used to be. In some cases they seem to have got a bit too completely en rapport with modern tendencies. There is my niece Ethelinda, age four. She is very bright and extremely articulate, and her remarks are often what the women-folk describe as “the killingest things.” It has always been my purpose to encourage in Ethelind her gift of original expression, so the other day, meetin her for the first time in several months, I inquired: “And what did your dolly say when she got up thi morning?” “Nothing doing,” said Ethelinda. “What's that?” “T said nothing doing. I'm selling my stuff now.” She left me and sat by the window, where her attitudc was that of deep concentration. I turned to my sister. “It's true,” she said. “It was one of those syndicate affairs. I used to send Ethelinda’s bright remarks to the papers, because they paid a dollar apiece for them. Pretty soon the syndicate man came out, and we had to sign a contract. One bright saying a day, and a child’s-prattk And she mustn't say bright things SOME people think that Bascom Slemp for anybody but the syndicate. It’s in the contract.” Can't fill his new position. My niece came running across the room. “Get this one They say he lacks the training of Mother,” she cried, “before I forget it. It’s a real nifty An old-time politician. Listen” But I, for one, am confident But I did not stay to hear it. Stoddard King. He will not wreck the Nation; Why, think of the advantage of 'HE only difference between a secretary and a private A Coolidge education! Ss C, secretary is that one knows more and tells less. Slemp, C. Bascom Secretary to the President fairy story for Sunday. SUGGESTION FOR MAKING THE OUTER OFFICE OF A BUSY MAN MORE INTERESTING FOR THOSE WHO WAIT TO SEE HIM. comicbooks.com