Life — April 5, 1928 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This "Travel Number" cover satirizes customs inspections at international borders. A stern, uniformed customs official gestures expressively while examining a fashionably dressed female traveler surrounded by luggage, suitcases, and travel goods. The satire likely concerns the absurdity or intrusiveness of customs procedures—either the official's theatrical manner of conducting inspections or the traveler's apparent anxiety about declaring items. Given this is 1928 (Prohibition era), the joke may reference smuggling concerns, particularly alcohol importation. The illustration captures the social tension between authorities and travelers, poking fun at either overzealous customs enforcement or travelers attempting to circumvent it. The woman's fashionable attire contrasts humorously with the tedious bureaucratic process she faces.