Life, 1924-05-01 · page 36 of 40
Life — May 1, 1924 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page primarily features **advertisements** (Ipana Toothpaste, Hotel McAlpin, Bellans) rather than editorial cartoons. The main satirical content is a **letters column titled "We Want Bigger and Better Wars,"** where readers submit darkly humorous suggestions for provoking international conflict. Authors propose absurd schemes: blockading the Suez Canal, using halitosis advertisements for propaganda, having the War Department guarantee war profits to corporations, and converting Europe into a baseball World Series between nations. **The satire's target**: American militarism and war profiteering in the post-WWI era. These tongue-in-cheek letters mock those who cynically view war as economically beneficial, who promote nationalism through advertising techniques, and who treat international relations as entertainment or profit opportunities. **Context**: This likely dates to the 1920s-30s, when isolationist sentiment and criticism of arms manufacturers ("merchants of death") were strong American political currents. The humor is darkly cynical—exaggerating real anxieties about corporate war-profiteering into absurdist proposals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
+ LIFE - too easy on the gums NewApays we're having a lot of trouble with our gums. You hear many fancy theories, but the plain truth of the matter is that we do not give our gums halfa chance to be healthy. Does your toothbrush “show pink”? Gums need work and exercise, But they get little of that with the kind of food we eat. It's too soft. It gives no stimu- lation, And the chances are that we it so fast that we again reduce the mechan- ical stimulation that the mere act of cating ought to give to our gums, To keep the gums firm and hard, thou- sands of dentists now prescribe the use of Ipana Tooth Paste. Many direct a gum massage with Ipana after the regular brushing, as a splendid restorative treat- ment. For Ipana, because of the presence of ziratol, has a direct tonic effect on weakened, soft or bleeding gums. Try a tube of Ipana today If your gums are tender, if they have a tendency to be soft or to bleed, go to the drug store today and buy your first tube you have finished using note the differenc You will be delighted with its grit-fre consistency, its delicious flavor and its an taste, IPANA TOOTH PASTE —made by the makers of Sal Hepatica a a In generous tubes, Encl tall drug and Cc department =e ne \ Y stores — $0c. ent. 42 Rector St. New York, N.Y. Kindly send me a trial tube of Traxa Tootu Paste without charge or obligation on my part. Name. Address. e Want Bigger and Better Wars” (Continued from page 15) them in our spare time. For the rest, it is of prime importance that we keep up a continual brag and bluster. Impress every foreigner we meet with the fact that we can lick the whole world with one hand tied behind our back, They will not like it, but what do. we care, as long as we succeed in bringing on a real old he-war! Watter L. Cutter. Lock Box 468, San Bernardino, Calif If Possible Have our generous Congress send sufficient battleships to blockade the Suez Canal, and allow nothing by American ships to pass through, on the grounds that American shipping is be ing discriminated against. This will, in twenty-four hours’ time, give you ‘the biggest war you ever saw, or read of in any historical chronicle or dime novel. V. S. Krarxey General Delivery, Maywood, Ill, Four Out of Five Entrust the propaganda for a new war to the writers of the halitosis and pyorrhea advertisements Lovise Parks Bett. 4417 Second Bled., Detroit, Mich. Just a Real Good War 1, Detam three hundred and fifty Army officers to determine the comple- ment of supplies necessary to armies of various sizes in campaigns of varied ve War Department issue to porations ¢ production of the their constituent ma fective a calling for the producti eral quotas at a substantial profit. Then, whenever industrial depression threatens, these corporations may be trusted to promote a bi war in order to reap the lucrative profits guaranteed by the contracts in their possession. Result: War Achieved. Industrial Depressions Elim- inated. Stacy May 1724 Eye St, N. W., Washington, D.C. Alone at Last Apotisu League of Nations, World art, Hague Tribunal and all other which prevent the qu war passions. entanglements mobilization of Josern Mayer. 32 West 40th St., New York City. Batter Up! Oren the battlefields of Europe for annual World Series between the vari- ous nations; those not belligerent enough to participate to be given as prizes to the winners of the Series. Nations thus won as prizes would then be given a stiff course of instruc- tion to fit them as substitutes in future battles. They could also fight the pre- Most Important Part of Your Plans To make sure you will got the most out of your visit— whether its on business or plea- sure — you must consider first your hotel reservation. The Hotel McAlpin is not only convenient TO everything —it's convenient IN everything. That means that you will find just the kind of hotel service that will give you the most com- fort and pleasure. Instead of the stiff formality of the average hotel, you enjoy the atmosphere of quiet, home-like contentment —plus the unequalled McAlpin Service. n example of how’ we antict- you a complete, modern and simple service map of the city, showing you all Subway, "L", and surface sta- tlone. Just ask for Map L. ARTHUR L. LEE, Managing Director ‘he Center » Convenience Broadway at 34" Street Hol AMVAin © BELLANS Hot water Sure Relief ELL-ANS ‘FOR INDIGESTION 25¢ AND 75¢ PACKAGES EVERYWHERE “LARENCE Pawyer, 197-4, Security § Som'T Ban . directly’ across'street from Patent Omce, Wash- liminaries to the main battle, and thus — | ingtoa,“D'c comicbooks.com