Life, 1924-04-10 · page 6 of 36
Life — April 10, 1924 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts an artist's studio scene with dialogue between a janitor and artist. The janitor claims he "could never do that," while the modestly-dressed artist responds, "How do you know? Did you ever try? 'Me? Saw—I'd want to run around more.'" The joke satirizes the gap between artistic ambition and practical capability—the janitor assumes he couldn't create art without attempting it, preferring physical activity to disciplined studio work. Below, "The Crisis" is a satirical poem mocking bureaucratic chaos and governmental dysfunction—referencing violations of constitutional principles, excessive regulation, and administrative absurdity. It names specific agencies (White House, Capitol) and criticizes overreach. The final section, "Stranger than Fiction," humorously reports theater and business establishments discouraging customers through absurd policies, suggesting reality proves more ridiculous than theatrical fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
for: 1 COULD NEVER DO THAT Artist (mode NOW bo You KNow? ME? NAW—t'b WANT To RUN The Crisis Mr. Volstead! Call the police ! Hurry out the army with a dozen rounds apiece! Wireless the navy and the aviators, too! I'm a law-abiding citizen 3 By the pillars of «d don’t know what to do! the White House, by the Car There is riot, insurrection a lian dome rebellion in my home! There is flagrant violation (which amounts to revolution) Of the Sacrosanct Amendment to the sacred Constitution ; For [left a keg of grape-juice on a rafter in my garret And [ never even touched it, but it’s t While another in my cellar is discove' Reprehensible ambitic ning into claret! ng a very to develop into sherry! And a gallon jug of cider in a corner of my larder That was once a harder! mild as honey, now is getting hard and Come and read a proclamation to the bottles on my shelves That are making alcoholic exhibitions of themselves ! Hear the land sticri Hear the wheels whirring! Hal undred Governors are busily conferring The President and Secretaries, greater and inferior, Of Commerc and Treasury, of Labor and Interior, Ninety-six Senators (two for each State), Four hundred Congressmen plus thirty-eight, nd all the wise Judges of the Federal courts Ponder these iniquities, malfeasances and torts; And they issue in accordance with their powers and their functions By-laws and dry laws, writs and injy Annulling by decision or by act of leg Every delete principle of Na Especially denouncing with severest repre e scandalous catalysis of yeasty fermentation So effervescence lapses by a gentle desuetude, And the awful alcoholic insurrection is subdued! Arthur Guiterman. Stranger than Fiction JOW that the newspapers are running their annual a nouncements that the New York theatre ticket spec ulators are being put out of business, it is pleasing to note at one theatre advertise hice.” This admirab all lines of publ ny seats only at the box ankness should be encouraged in nk how many heartburnings and disappointments could be obviated if such a practice became common, as per the following slogan suggestions : The Pullman Ce Upper berths only.” The Telephone Co.—"The line is bus The Corner Grocery—"We're ju The nionable Fifth Avenue Church—“Strangers not especially welcome.” ALC. M. Azoy, Jr at of that.” comicbooks.com