Life, 1925-10-15 · page 24 of 36
Life — October 15, 1925 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon satirizes literary censorship efforts of the early 20th century. A group of famous "moral" authors—Louisa May Alcott, Oliver Optic, John Bunyan, and Horatio Alger Jr.—meet to expurgate (censor) the bestselling novel "Simon Called Peter," which apparently contained sexual or profane content. After weeks of debate, they produce a hilariously over-censored version retitled "Peter Called Simon" with minimal actual changes: just four commas added and the word "spade" replaced with "farming implement." The joke mocks both the absurdity of prudish censorship and the self-importance of Victorian-era moral reformers. The bottom cartoon, "The Check-Up," appears to be a separate health-related piece questioning five random people about pyorrhea (gum disease), with four answering "yes" and one "no"—likely commentary on a public health concern of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| MMEN BETTER HONEY PF 'S MADE BUSY Be H BEES WILL MAKE yi SARS. 2S a SO} THE EFFICIENCY MAN SPEEDS UP A Clean Bill of Health STERN the spirits of departed authors, the foulness and gener- and austere group of despairing a ally salacious tinge of modern litera- ture, gathered in solemn conclave to remedy the evil. They decided to take the erstwhile best seller, “Simon Called Peter,” and expurgate it. Present at the conference were the familiar figures of Louisa Alcott, Oliver Optic, John Bunyan and Horatio Alger, Jr For weeks they struggled with their self-imposed task, the Augean under- taking which was to benefit: mankind. Alger suggested that the tale be re- modeled to fit the theme of “Sink or Swim.” Miss Alcott held out for a general expurgation and a change of title to Volume 50 of “Little Men,” while John Bunyan insisted upon mak- ing the thing more allegorical. Oliver Optic insisted with dignity that he would quit on the spot unless the book were called, “Simon and Peter; or, The Two Young Disciples in a Great City.” Finally, after many months, the door of the conference room opened and out The Clown: STAY RIGHT WHERE YoU ARE, BROTHER; IT’S ALL PART OF THE ACT. A AM! WECKLY HONEY, RECORD Cloves Meey 8 Jann Re * Hd hedy 16 = : PRODUCTION IN THE HIVE filed the reformers, bearing in’ cere- mony the expurgated book with its title changed to “Peter Called Simon,” and its contents thoroughly cleaned out by the insertion of four commas and the change of the word “spade” to “farm- ing implement.” George M. Rowland, Jr. The Check-Up Cast of Characters: Inquiring reporter. Five persons picked at random Question: > A Have you pyorrhe: Ans: Tom Ssutn, corkscrew turer: Yes. Dick Jones, salesman: Yes. Harry Rontnson, enforcement agent: Yes. But. Buack, salesman: Yes. Joun Wate, salesman: No. manufac- comicbooks.com