Life, 1925-04-16 · page 32 of 36
Life — April 16, 1925 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
## The Main Cartoon The top cartoon depicts a forest ranger and a lady. He explains his job is searching for forest fires daily but finds only "one or two a season." The lady expresses surprise he isn't "terribly discouraged." The joke is understated irony: the ranger's job seems futile, yet he persists—suggesting either admirable dedication or absurd futility depending on interpretation. ## The Contest Submissions The bulk of the page features "Life's Question Contest" responses defining what makes a "100% American." The entries are satirical critiques of American patriotism and values: - One submission mocks performative patriotism: people called patriotic for enlistment, supporting Prohibition, or defending the flag—yet doing these things superficially or hypocritically. - Another reduces American identity to statistical percentages of ethnic traits (Latin, German, Irish, etc.), suggesting American identity is merely a mixed composite. - Final entries satirize American hypocrisy: valuing family honor while wanting to escape to Paris; enjoying H.L. Mencken's cynical critiques while feeling patriotic. The satire targets hollow patriotic gestures and self-righteous reformism of the era (likely 1920s, given Prohibition reference). ## Advertising The Bayer Aspirin ad occupies lower space—typical period magazine placement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lire’s Question Contest (Continued from page 8) shouted to hold his ear. A myth he is, an incarnation of a medieval serf set free in the modern world, floundering about, insistent on asserting his superior- ity, blind to his own non-existence, He would try to justify self-righteous blue laws, to stifle every individual creation of beauty, and still fight to make the world safe for democracy, when democracy is not safe for him. Edwin Forrest Hartley, Jr., Sigma Chi House, Hanover, N. H. ATIN love of the beautiful.... 8% Scotch caution - $% German thoroughness, + 10% Norse vigor. . + 6% English persistency. . + 12% Irish pugnacity and wit. French diplomacy... Jewish love of barter - Native qualities developed as the result of environment, freedom of speech and press, disregard of tradition, intuition, — self-confi- dence and ambition see 39% Ranger: YES, MAM, OUR BUSINESS IS TO GO ABOUT DAY AFTER DAY LOOKING FOR American. reeseseeree se fOOW FOREST FIRES. . odwin, Lady: AND YOU FIND A GREAT MANY, I SUPPOSE. 70 Exchange St., Rochester, N. Y. Ranger: OW, ONE OR TWO A SEASON. Lady: MERCY, DON’T YOU GET TERRIBLY DISCOURAGED? HAVE been called a 100% American because I enlisted and fought for my country. (I enlisted for adventure and fought because I had to.) I have been called a 100% American because I agreed with my minister that Prohibition is a great thing. (I agreed because I didn’t care to argue.) I have been called a 100% American because I knocked a man down for in- sulting the flag and slurring the Govern- ment. (I knocked him down in an- ticipation of the praise that followed.) From my own experience, then, comes the definition that a 100% American is one who openly and ostentatiously tickles the fancy and imagination of reformers but who secretly and unostentatiously tickles his own! Jerome B. Gray, sq Ludlow St., Philadelphia, Pa. SAY “BAYER ASPIRIN’ and INSIST! ne: Hite one csc Jools can is: Unless you see the “Bayer Cross” on tablets you are not getting the genuine Bayer Aspirin proved safe | of the young intelligentsia and listen to One who can read all the outpourings the oratory of Rotarians and still be proud of his country. Louise Parks Bell, Colds Headache Detroit, Mich. One who sanctifies the honor of family Pain Neuralgia and home and all his life nurses a desire to be in Paris without his wife. Wm, Lee Dickson, Toothache Lumbago Rockville Centre, L. I. by millions and prescribed by physicians 24 years for Neuritis Rheumatism One who thoroughly enjoys and ap- preciates H. L. Mencken and still gets a real thrill when the bugler blows “as- Accept only “Bayer” package which contains proven directions. sembly.” Handy “Bayer” boxes of 12 tablets—Also bottles of 24 and 100—Druggists. Robert M. Parks, Aspirin is the trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoaceticacidester of Salicylicacid Detroit, Mich. comicbooks.com