Life, 1926-12-02 · page 19 of 81
Life — December 2, 1926 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem and illustrations mock Prohibition-era hypocrisy. A judge publicly demands propriety while privately accepting whiskey from a bootlegger (illegal alcohol supplier). The humor lies in the contradiction: the authority figure who should enforce the law is complicit in breaking it. The "Moonshiner" supplies contraband liquor. The joke escalates absurdly—the judge climbs a tree, pinches the bootlegger's daughter for "fifty dollars," then asks for whiskey in his tea while lecturing about "Un-American" behavior. The bottom cartoon, "Homeward Bound," depicts Santa's sleigh laden with labeled bottles heading toward homes, suggesting widespread holiday alcohol consumption despite Prohibition. The satire targets judicial corruption and the universal flouting of Prohibition laws across American society, particularly among the privileged.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
se send the apologies, or will Mr. Milne call for them? ) HE Judge asked The Wife, and The Wife asked The Bootlegger: “How about the whisky His Honor’s cup of tea The Wife asked The Bootlegger, The Bootlegger s “Certainly; I'll go and tell The Moonshiner,” And pocketed The fee HE Moonshiner Scowled sleepily Upon the thirty dollars. The Moonshiner Swore wearily And crawled back to bed: “The cost of drinking’s higher; You'd better tell His Honor That many people nowadays Take in wine Instead.” T Bootlegger d; “Fancy.” And went to His Honor’s Wife: “Raisin wine is tasty if It goes to the head.” The Wife said: “So it is— We'll go and tell His Honor.” The Judge Sobbed: “T don’t want Raisin wine Instead.” RQumber MINERNE Little Girl: wavex’t you Got 4 DOLL THAT says “Gimme”? HE Judge Sighed: “Oh, Dearie Me"—— And pulled out His check book. The Judge said: “Bother,” And made the Figures high. The Moonshiner Said: “There, there, His Honor. And poured out a Bottle of Coal tar and Lye. HE Wife and The Bootlegger Brought it to * His Honor. The Judge said: “Whisky, ch?” And climbed up a tree. “Nobody,” he said, As he slipped him *ifty dollars, obody,” he said As he pinched her on The knee, “Nobody, My Dears, Could call me Un-American RUT I do like a little drop of whisky for my tea.” Eleanor Hoffmann. HOMEWARD BOUND comicbooks.com