Life, 1927-03-10 · page 16 of 38
Life — March 10, 1927 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a young lawyer's naïveté or incompetence. A baby sits in a chair while an aggressive man (the senior lawyer or opposing counsel) demands: "You stole the bonds! Where were you at midnight to answer me!" The joke centers on the lawyer's absurd error: he's brought an infant to a serious criminal case, apparently unable to distinguish between his actual client and a baby. This mocks inexperienced lawyers who are unprepared or comically incompetent at their profession. The caption confirms he's "just been admitted to the bar" and is taking his "first case"—highlighting the humorous contrast between legal credentials and practical ability. It's a straightforward joke about professional incompetence rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ELMIRA, WOUL! BACK HOME PAINTED? TIT BE RATHER NICE OF US TO HAVE THE OLD CHURCH SOME OF THAT NEW WHITE THE FACTORY IS PUTTING T—WE'D GET A LITTLE ADVERTISING.” Mes: Rays Diary February Awake betimes, wishing I that we were in some 15th Gime where we could dine in a garden from which steps lead down to the sea, a longing not unseasonable for February in New York, but pondering also that were we in such a heavenly spot, I should need a larger wardrobe than will be required for Aiken, and God forbid that I should spend any more of my life in fitting-rooms than the mini- mum necessity. My husband cut- ting in upon my dreams with a re- quest that I write a note inviting the Hibbards to dine with us, I did clamor loudly for even one good reason why I should give up an evening to such unspeakable bores, whereto he responded that he did wish I were a woman to whom all things were inevitable, like the one in “The Green Hat,” for that then he would not have to tax his brain so frequently for expository pur- poses. ...To luncheon at Sadie Cart- wright’s, falling to cards afterwards, my luck being so outrageously bad that I did long to be in the position of the king who, when his opponent said, “I make it one no-trump,” quoth, “You will do nothing of the sort; you will make it four spades, and I shall double!” Nor could we play long enough for me to retrieve my losses, neither, Emmy Anders, who has gone into the decorating business, having to keep an ap- pointment with the customs peo- ple about a consignment of Italian frescoes which has been sent over all wrong, and when I did hear the com- plications in which sucha misfortune in- volved poor Emmy, I could but thank God that when I ake an error in my own profession, all I need is an eraser. Walking home along the Avenue, praying for strength to pass Saks’ without en- tering, but albeit I weakened, I did or- der nought save some bath soap from Miss Mau- bourg, recalling as I (Cont. on page 35) Ballade of the Chronic Urge HENEVER I receive The keen desire to brew A poem that will leave No other verse in view, I seize my pen with true Ardor; the senses whirl ; And then I draw, in lieu, The picture of a girl. Say, is it not to grieve? And not to marvel, too? The cerebrum may weave A rich brocade of new Philosophy; a few Bright fan may unfurl... What's there when I get through? The picture of a girl! My bosom starts to heave, My eyes are turned askew; Arms quiver in the sleeve, Feet tremble in the shoe. Would it not madden you And make your straight hair curl To find you merely drew The picture of a girl? L'Envor Muse, let there once ensue A rare poetic pearl, Not what I always rue: The picture of a girl. Simonetta. The First Question R. W.: Our budget has a deficit * of a hundred and fifty dollars. Mrs. W.: How shall we spend it? THE MODERN YOUNG LAWYER WHO HAS JUST BEEN ADMITTED TO THE BAR PRACTICES UP A BIT BEFORE TAKING HIS FIRST CASE. comicbooks.com