Life, 1925-12-31 · page 17 of 37
Life — December 31, 1925 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon (Bottom):** The large illustration depicts two figures in formal attire shaking hands in front of gates labeled "KEEP OUT," "TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED," and "FORBIDDEN." The caption reads "WITH BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!" This is **political satire about international relations**, likely referencing post-WWI tensions. The contradictory message—cordial New Year wishes exchanged before closed, hostile gates—satirizes the hypocrisy of nations claiming peaceful intentions while maintaining restrictive policies. The specific borders or nations referenced are unclear without additional context, but the commentary critiques the gap between diplomatic pleasantries and actual isolationist or protectionist barriers between countries.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the Page letters can affect the sound- ness of that position. ERE has been an excellent re- action from Colonel Harvey's piece in the North American about the bad case England is in, and denials, some of them quite heated, that Britain is anything like as ill off as Colonel Harvey has represented. A consider- able body of forecasters has been pre- dicting calamities for the British, and Colonel Harvey did no more. But what the English may say of them- selves does not sound good to them when it comes from some one else. The best answer to Colonel Harvey comes from Garvin, who insists with great good nature that things are not going so ill as they are said to be; that Britain has turned the corner, is work- ing with France and Germany, and can triumph over all problems by co-oper- ‘LIFE: ation. “There will yet be,” says Mr. Garvin, “a United States of Europe to link us equally with the United States of America.” That idea seems to be going in Europe and, of course, it is the great idea, that has in it salvation for Europe and increased happiness and prosperity for all the world. Russia lately fell off the water wagon (as all of the headlines faithfully pointed out) and vodka and all the spirits are again for sale. The release was celebrated by general con- viviality, not entirely edifying as one read of it. The reason given for the change was that the home-made drinks were worse than the old drinks, and that it was impossible either to tax or stop them. That is interesting. Our experience has been that it takes some time after prohibition steps in to contrive an effi- cient production of substitutes, but that presently that is done and people get their drinks somewhat as before. Then there comes the question whether the - ee 15 new drinks are better or worse than the old ones. E it in anybody's mind to get the pay of the Governor of New York raised from $10,000 to $25,000? It should be done, irrespective of who is Governor. It is a complicated job, because the Governor's pay is fixed in the State Constitution now in force, and can only be changed following an amendment to that constitution, All the more reason to get started on it early in the present session of the legislature. Mitchel showed what a mayor might be worth to New York, and Hylan got his pay raised. Alfred Smith has shown what a Governor is worth to New York, and doubtless it will be his suc- cessor who will get more pay. Not often in politics do salary and services combine as they should. E. S. Martin. WITH BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR! comicbooks.com