Life, 1924-06-19 · page 36 of 40
Life — June 19, 1924 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1920s satire depicts a political dirty trick during a campaign speech. **J. Humphrey Carbarns**, the Party's preferred candidate, is interrupted mid-speech when a **black cat** walks across the flag-draped platform—a deliberate sabotage by his opponent **MacSweeney**. The superstitious crowd panics (black cats symbolized bad luck), causing chaos that humiliates Carbarns. The hidden punchline reveals the conspiracy: MacSweeney's operative, a scarred man, deliberately planted trained black cats to disrupt rival speeches. He calmly discusses with a cigar-smoking handler ordering more cats for upcoming primaries and gubernatorial races—suggesting systematic use of this tactic across multiple campaigns. The satire mocks both machine politics' underhanded methods and public superstition. The absurdist humor lies in treating trained black cats as standard campaign weaponry, comparable to other political tools.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
J. Husriteey Cansarns, the Party's Choice and popular candidate against his aused suddenly midst of his speech opp. nt MacSweeney, in the with fist ring- ry abruptly silenced. Behind ul lips half-parted: Poste Bereier For short trips or long tours in every outdoor activity the efficient Biascope means added pleasure. $3 and $7 at dealers. By mail add $.2 Money-back guarantee. Circulars free Wollensak Optical Company Y. Rochester, N Black Politics him his campaign manager sat frozen with \ murmur of apprehension ran through the crowd, and they followed the eyes of the terrified Carbarns to the the flag-draped platform. And as they g floor of ed fascinated, across the front of the marched a black cat, its back arched and its tail in the air rostrum It climbed over the side deliberately and slowly, and was gone. The and booing Pandemonium ensued. crowd retreated rapidly, hissing « luckless Carbarns, s: for failure; the camp. dashed the tumbler of form of hi the clearly marked gn manager ice-water over candidate little an with a longitudinal scar across his leit check stooped rapidly, gathered the cat into his arms, and fled to a waiting the collapsed All unseen in confusion, a received by a large man with a black cigar k," smiled. the “I'd like lack cats for next week, motor. Here he was warmly ‘Good we man with the black a dozen more to reserve and twenty for the week after. Can you do it? The man with the thoughtfully. “There's fifty for the Ohio primaries, and what with ed it reserved scar s all the California Senators and the fight for the I can promi Idaho Governor, I'm not sure you more than ten cats for the week after next.” The man with the cigar tapped it impatiently ‘ou wouldn't go back MacSweeney?” he “Of course said. replied the man with the scar ow, I'm expecting another litter of kittens next week: and if L can train a dozen black ones to walk across a platform, in time for the C. y “Try your best,” said the man with 1 have “em.” barns specche the cigar as he nbed into his } seat; “twenty m kittens there'll | be a MacSweency We're ee on you.” Catt cA warning | bleeding gums | RE your gums tender? Do they bleed when brushed? If so—watch out for Pyorrhea. This disease of ty® gums, which aflicts four out of five people over forty, not only destroys the teeth, but often wrecks the health. InPyorthea the gums become sponsy. then recede; the teeth decay, en and fall out—or must be ex to nd the system of the nfe: Pyor tad gum inspection, and use Fore han’s For the Gums. Forhan's For the Gums pre- vents Pyorthea —or checks its progress — f used in ume and used consistently. Ordinary den tfrces cannot do ths. Forhan's heeps the gums frm and healthy =the teeth whie and clean. Start using it today. If ms have receded, use Fees | han's according to directions, [i | and const a dentist immer [7 dhately for special treatment, 35e and 60e tubes in ULS. and Canada. Formate of 4, Yorna, D. D. 8, FOR THE GUMS comicbooks.com