Life, 1925-02-05 · page 8 of 36
Life — February 5, 1925 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief satirical observations on contemporary issues. The central illustration shows a baby in a cradle with a dark figure (possibly representing war, danger, or economic hardship) looming over it—likely commenting on child welfare or societal threats to the next generation. The text snippets mock various topics: America's shortage of airplanes, East St. Louis considering a name change, Nicholas Murray Butler's political ambitions, and Walter Koppisch's football career. There's commentary on Yale's large graduating class and New York's coonskin coat shortage. The "Extracts from Famous Baby Books" parodies Calvin Coolidge's actual childhood diary, humorously annotating mundane entries about maple syrup and walking to absurdist effect—satirizing both Coolidge's dullness and overwrought biographical reverence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AMERICA, say the war experts, is yet: when it comes to a little matter like a world flight we seem to have enough to go short of airplanes. And around. nO East St. Louis is considering changing its name, those most favored being St. Some- body has evidently been reading Pull- Clair, Cahokia and Kaskaskia. man cars. nt Nicnotas Murray Butter says our national ignorance is appalling; and, How many citizens, for ex- truly, it is. ample, recall that Dr. Butter was once recorded as a candidate for Vice-President; and in what campaign? On the other hand, how many know with what team Watter Korriscit played last fall? aL The good doctor does not real- ize, however, that in these days of gasoline and Fords, knowledge is no longer power. LL Yale's graduates number almost 40,000. In New York City alone this leaves several thousand wear- ers of coonskin coats unaccounted for. aL Commissioner Enricut believes that finger-prints should be taken of the law-abiding citizens in- stead of the criminals in New York. Whatever other advan- tages the plan may have, it cer- tainly ought to relieve the police of a lot of work. LL Among prominent citizens unal- terably opposed to the Child La- bor Amendment are the elder Coocans and Mr. and Mrs. Basy Pecey, Sr. JL The U. S. G. A. has deferred for two years adoption of a new standard golf ball; at the request. it is said, of a Scots delegate who bought a dozen of the old type in 1920 and wanted time to use up the remaining four. A member of the German Reichstag receives $4.50 a day for his services, or about one-half the day’s wages of a bricklayer. They know what a good politician is worth over there. aL Atronso of Spain and EmmManuet of Italy continue to hold their thrones, one by resisting and the other by yielding to his enemies. It’s a poor ruler that won't work both ways. LL On the other hand, the Crown Prince of Italy has lately accepted the honorary presidency of the Anti-Blasphemy So- ciety. This should leave the Crown Prince of Spain free either to write a modern novel, perfect his golf game, or run for Vice-President of the United States. LL When Hartan F, Stoxe was made a Justice of the United States Supreim Court the newspapers did not raise the question of whether or not he coud live on his salary—inasmuch as he had ence been a college professor. aL “The female sex,” according to an As- sociated Press report on the 1923 popu- lation of England, “had a ma- Extracts from Famous Baby Books Basy Cavin Coottnce Born July 4, 1872 AUGUST 18. 1872—104° in the shade to-day; Baty slept peccefully in the sun all day. DECEMBER 2, 1872—Baty spoke. Said: “Ah—" DECEMBER 2, 1873—Baby spoke again. Said: g00! JANUARY 2, 1874—Meple syrup gicen Calein to-day. FEBRUARY 2, 1874—Baby hasn't quite decided whether he likes maple syrup or not. MARCH 1 to 31, 1874—5,000 funny stories, 3.000 fairy tales read to Baby. Baby yawned 8,000 times. APRIL, 1874—Baby tries to walk, but doesn't know in which direction to go. JANUARY 2. 1875—Baby finally decides he likes the maple syrup. M. A. T. jority of 1,927,926.” The psychological moment for launching of a new party. LL Artuur Ricnarpson, mail-rob- ber, was caught by Federal offi- cers who handcuffed him while he slept. “There, Willie! Do you sce what happens when you don't keep your hands under the covers these cold winter nights?” LL From California, where he is now commercially traveling, Harry Harvey reports that the citizenry is very suspicious oi Joun D. Rockeretter’s $1,600.- 000 gift to the Imperial Unive sity at Tokio for the restora! of its library. “Do you think those Japs'll put all that moncy into books?” queried a native son. “Books, nothing! They'll spend every nickel of it for air- planes.” LL In view of his handsome present to Japan—which can certainly do no harm to the cause of world peace—Mr. ROCKEFELLER evidently believes that the yen is mightier than the sword. LL The saddest tragedy of the year is already in. It is that of an ex- pert who bought a house in 1924 with the money he expected to make teaching Mah Jong in 1925. comicbooks.com