Life, 1926-07-08 · page 11 of 41
Life — July 8, 1926 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical elements: **"Desk Mottos"** (poem by Newman Levy): A humorous meditation on workplace escape fantasies. The author humorously lists motivational signs above his desk that encourage him to abandon work for nature and leisure, culminating in a "NO PARKING HERE" sign representing his conscience. **"The Buzom Lady"** cartoon: Depicts a woman leaving a lecture series on "The Better Arts" by Professor Nightmans, sardonically captioned that she's "cultured for another year"—mocking superficial cultural consumption. **"Definitions"** section: A satirical glossary defining political/social positions by their weekly salaries, from "Anarchist" ($15) to "100% American" ($500+). This likely critiques how ideology correlates with wealth and class status. **"Hobo" cartoon**: A vagrant expressing desire to travel, contrasting with the salary-based definitions above. The page satirizes class divisions, pretentious culture, and political hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Desk Mottoes BOVE my desk three signs are ~S j A nailed — \ They're printed neat and nice. Dy \ "| I In time of need they’ve never failed . lit wlll Au To give me good advice. For instance, when I’m tired of work, Which frequently occurs, A strong desire to loaf and shirk Within my bosom stirs. C [LAST _ | I scent afar the tang of brine LECTURE On some cool sea-girt isle; fi é 4 IN 1 | I thrill with joy, and on my sign F i] f j 1 read SMILE, DAMN YOU, 7 | FROFESSOR. | | 49 I SERIES I dream of cloudless golden days, Of gently rippling stream, The glen where mottled sunlight plays, The splash of trout agleam. THE MIBETTER [A RTS” I must away! The wood gods call, And to their will I bow. I read my motto on the wall— It tells me DO IT NOW! I'll do it now! Old sign, you're right. I'm through with work for good. Ill quit my job this very night, I'm off for field and wood. } | And as I leave that desk of mine | My conscience it is clear, The Buzom Lady: weit, THAT'S OVER, AND THANK HEAVENS I’M CULTURED Vor there above it hangs a sign FOR ANOTHER YEAR. That says NO PARKING HERE, Newman Levy. Definitions NARCHIST Bolshev: Communist : Socialist: $ Reactionis Plain $15 a week salary. : $18.00 a week salary. 20.00 a week salary -00 a week salary. .00 a week salary. ),00 a week salary. Loyal Citizen: $40.00 a week salary. Ultra-Loyal 0.00 a week salary. Conservative: $75.00 a week salary. Ultra-Conservative: $100.00 a week salary. Good American: $150.00 a week and income. | 100% American: $500.00 a week and up. NE way to make yourself solid ° is to drink bootleg liquor. Hobo: 1 wis 1 HAD MONEY—1’D LIKE TO TRAVEL. comicbooks.com