Life, 1925-09-17 · page 8 of 36
Life — September 17, 1925 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces: 1. **Top illustration**: "The Hussy" - depicts beachgoers, likely satirizing 1920s bathing suit fashion and changing social mores around women's clothing and public behavior. 2. **Main text article "Dragnet"**: A fictional narrative about a police commissioner ordering detectives to apprehend a criminal who committed a crime against "fundamental principles" of government. The piece critiques something Satan-like that "damnfool Laws interfering with other People's Private Affairs." 3. **Bottom illustration**: "The Grade Crossing Watchman" - shows a railway crossing guard, likely satirizing railroad safety or worker competence. 4. **Sidebar jokes**: "Nubbville Spark" and a definition joke about pedestrians and cars. The page appears to mock both moral panic about social change and government overreach, typical of Life magazine's satirical approach during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IMULTANEOUSLY the “Rush! rang in every room in Police THE NUSSY Dragnet Immediate!" bell into which this man’s mind has sunk. Hell hath no furies Headquarters of the fit for such as he. The imagination gasps—you will pardon World's Greatest Metropolis, and hundreds upon hundreds the sceming incongruity of the phrase, gentlemen—at the of the most highly trained detectives on earth hastened to mere thought of his super-diabolic malevolence. answer its call. “For this man, if man I may call him—" Behind his mahogany desk, the face of the silver-haired Here the Commissioner arose, his eyes flashing fire. Commissioner of Police was set in grim lines. “Men,” he informed them, “a desperate criminal is rag- ing within the confines of our fair city, a man potentially more dangerous than any of the murderers, gunmen, high- waymen and their kind whom it has been your duty hereto- fore to apprehend, “Your work heretofore has been commonplace — routine. But now I call upon you to perform a task which will try your mettle. For this man, this fiend in human form, is gnawing at the very funda- mental principles upon which our enlightened national gov- ernment is based. The press is shricking aloud for his cap- ture. And, my brave fellows, to you I entrust this assign- ment—GET HIM, DEAD OR ALIVE!!! “Even you, courageous and experienced though you are, may well pale at the thought of the depths of ignominy “—this Satan incarnate, directed from the powers of the nether world, had the temerity to utter in public the following words: “Isn't Ir Apour Tine For THE Lecrstators oF Tuts Country to Stop Maxixc Damrnoo. Laws Interrer- ING with OTHER Peorte’s Private Arrairs AND START Miyoinc Tuer Own Busi- alive, gentle- Tip Bliss. Nubbville Spark A STRANGER dropped in at the Magnet movie show Friday night and had hardly got seated before he went to sleep. It couldn't be learnt whether he was from some big city or just natu- rally lazy. : EFINITION—A _ pedes- a eS rs = trian is a man whose wife THE GRADE CROSSING WATCHMAN is using the car. comicbooks.com