Life, 1926-04-08 · page 42 of 52
Life — April 8, 1926 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features **an interview with James L. Greb** about obtaining an automobile driver's license—a satirical commentary on bureaucratic corruption and political influence, likely from the 1920s-30s. **The Satire:** Greb describes his years-long struggle to obtain a license, revealing that success required entering "politics" and "a gigantic political combine." He's awarded license number 340, implying the system is rigged—persistence and merit mean nothing without political connections. His final reverent moment touching the license symbolizes how corrupt bureaucracies devalue honest achievement. The story satirizes the mundane yet infuriating reality that ordinary citizens need political strings pulled to accomplish routine tasks. **Supporting Context:** The shoe advertisement on the left page is incidental. The "Foot-Joy" ad and dental hygiene ads fill remaining space—typical magazine layout of the period. The interview mocks how thoroughly American civic institutions had been compromised by backroom politics, making even basic licensing absurd theater requiring insider knowledge.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“RUPE FIELD & FLINT CO, BROCKTON, Also makers of Tic ‘Burr Pacxarp Korrect Shape” Gnalomif, ssw«r “FAMOUS F MASS, * Men Foor DEFECTS CORRECTING Please send me Booklet offered by-you An Interview Men-Who-Do-Th Series) (Of I Greb, toying As an noticed at “QO you want me to tell yor did it,” said James L. with a paper cutter as he spoke experienced interviewer I that once s technique with a paper most perfect interested.” Mr. had always hoped,” I said, “the public is deeply Greb smiled reminiscently. “I he s: “that some day I might do it. But people discour- d me “Men with a Vision are always dis aged,” I commented They told me ¢ cou “Quite so ‘It can't be other They men for years to get auto license a 1 who finally had quit trying, broken before their tir But my purpose wa tered. You might say I Followed Gleam.” “I shall say so," I agreed, making a “My first attempt was not a succes the Director But [ only I wrote a personal letter of the Bureau of Licenses. got 1 nber 796. The next year I nt to the Bureau of Licenses in person and saw plainly that I was up against a gigantic political combine. | took 340, the best and went hom number obtait . to lay my plans and to profit by my mistakes. Iam, if Im, @ man who turns mistakes into Ly stepping stones. “Distasteful as T found it, T went into polities. 1 shall not weary you with the details of them are sordid “TL know how i “The public something I have id, tactfully on beneath the surface pened at the last Republic ention showed plainly enc at a new and powerful influence w work. You will re ask- member that political writers were Who is the new boss and what does he want “IT remember,” I said, as I always do at this point in a “Well, people enough who T was and what I wanted The Gover tractive interview. knew soon ffered me rf nor yy ate I was firm, alter s. But he license pl. Would So it happened that T was the third State came yeste them?” > see person in the to see the plates It was an impressive moment Impressive, too, was the look on the as I left ger toying with James 1 his hands no los paper cutter but alm st reverently ito license No. 1, It was the look of aman who would not be discouraged, who could not be beaten, who had Followed the Gleam. touching the tokens of ‘Protect your gums and save your teeth UST as a ship needs the clos- est attention under the water- line, so do the teeth under the gum-line. If the gums shrink from the tooth-base, genous dangers result. The teeth are weak- ‘gums themselves tender Up. They form tact whech become the door- waytof orgamc disease for the whole system. They disfigure the mouth in proportion as they recede. Forhan's prevenss thes gum. decay called Pyor thea, which attacks fowr out of five peo ple over forty. Use Forhan's every Tender gum spots are }) corrected. The gum: | tissues are hardened }}\_and vigored to support sound, unloosened | teeth | Fochan’s is used as 0 | dennfrice. though no derafrice possesses its peculiar gum-usswe acton, If gum shrinkage h | already set im. 5: ‘using Forhan's an. | consult a dentist en. meduely for specul treatment In 35¢ and 60 tubes at all drug pats inthe United aes mew YORK CITY SPECIALIST IN PRESCRIPTION OF THE DENTAL PROFESSION Formate of Ra Verbaa,D DS FORHAN CO. ‘New York The real thing | in college novels Glitter By KATHARINE BRUSH all Bookstores MINTON BALCH & COMPANY 17 East 45th Street New York FAT, facts and fancies by Brasmus A.B. C. PUB. CO. | 12 The Plaza Biltmore, N. C. ase tor Horlick’s The ORIGINAL Malted Milk For INFANTS, Children, Invalides, Nursing Mothers,ete. comicbooks.com