Life, 1926-07-01 · page 7 of 40
Life — July 1, 1926 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical poetry and social commentary from what appears to be an early 20th-century American context. **"Sweet Land of Legislation"** is a humorous poem mocking the proliferation of laws and regulations in America, suggesting they're excessive, contradictory, and often pointless ("pens and ink are cheap"). **"Some Statistics About the 100% American Number"** presents tongue-in-cheek criteria for "true" American citizenship—requiring Mayflower ancestry, specific residency periods, and military service. This satirizes nativist fervor and restrictive immigration attitudes of the era. **"For This We Have Revolutions"** and the beach scene cartoon mock material excess and social hypocrisy—a woman complains about bank deposits while her friend frets over Fourth of July frivolities. The cartoons target bureaucratic absurdity, gatekeeping Americanism, and shallow bourgeois concerns dressed up as patriotic virtue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Li Fourth of July Orator: aNv Now, FELLOW CITIZENS, IN HONOR OF THIS, THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIPTIETIL THE DECLARATION OF IN EIGHTEENTH AME Some Statistics About the 100% American Number N° contribution for this number has been accepted 1 SHALL READ THE MENT. unless submitted by 1. A natural-born citizen of the United States dircetly descended from one of the passengers on the Mayflower. !, A descendant beyond the second gencration of a naturalized citizen of the United States. 3. A naturalized citizen of the United States. +. An alien having resided not less than two weeks in the United Ss. 5. A non-resident alien. Each member of Lire’s staff has concluded his morn- ing daily dozen for the last two weeks by facing towards the W, Monument, executing a m and repeating, “God takes care of fools, drunkards and the United States.” Each contribution for this issue has heen initialed by the National Security League, Senator Reed, Edward L. Do- leny and a certified public accountant named Prszypez. Irish, Scotch, Jewish and Swedish dialect stories have been strictly pro- hibited, except here and there. No persons of German descent have heen allowed in the office after 5 Pp. M. The 100% American Number is AMERICAN — ONE HUNDRED PER CENT.! A CLEAN CAYS! Mrs. Cohen TION NEVER DE- Baron Ireland. MILE WEET BRE Mr. Cohen: VELL—MAYBE I NEED HIM AGAIN, SOME TIME. fe Sweet Land of Legislation IGH laws and by-laws, shy and sly and spy laws, Laws to tell you what to do and laws to tell you not; and mad laws, sad and cad and fad laws, pu've never heard of and others you've forgot. nd blue laws, anti-brew and stew laws, irecting times to eat and time to go to sleep; Mild laws and wild laws, frequently reviled laws, Laws and laws and laws and laws—but pens and ink are cheap. Jay laws and stray laws (but you must obey laws; Law is law, and mind it of you'll wind up in the coop). Hick laws and slick laws, lunatic and trick laws; Bring us out some statutes and we'll pass ’em with a whoop! Stout laws, in-doubt laws—whcere'’d we be without law: Laws and laws and laws and laws to regulate our times. Tried laws and snide laws, guyed and ne‘er-applied laws— Everything is lovely—if we don’t run out of crimes! Tip Bliss. For This We Have Revolutions PAIR of chiffon legs had been trying for ten min- utes to get her boy friend, a bank teller, on the telephone. Giving it up, she burst from the booth with her afternoon complexion fretted by a frown. Jc her girl friend on a hotel davenport, she complained: “T can’t even raise the bank. Must be a holiday some kind.” It was. It was the Fourth of July. McCready Huston. “T)AMN the torpedoes!" cried Admiral Farragut, as he tried to get some sleep early in the morning of July Fourth. What do you think of Betty? he looks to me like a safe pet. WE AMERICANS ING DOT LIFE-GOD FOR ONLY SWEE you IN! SHOULD BE PLENTY A NICKEL comicbooks.com