Life, 1928-06-07 · page 24 of 54
Life — June 7, 1928 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Main Cartoon: "A Couple of Tired Business Men Go to Canada for the Fishing"** Two businessmen claim they're escaping to Canada to fish and enjoy fresh air for their health. However, the entire conversation reveals their true agenda: acquiring alcohol. They repeatedly discuss quantities of liquor (Scotch, gin, rye), ask the guide to procure it, and plan to bribe him with cash. The irony is sharp—they claim the trip will "fix them up like the doctor said," but they're actually planning a drinking expedition. **Historical Context:** This satirizes Prohibition-era (1920s-1933) behavior. With alcohol banned in the U.S., Americans frequently crossed into Canada to obtain liquor legally. The cartoon mocks the transparent hypocrisy: businessmen pretending health-conscious motives while openly plotting alcohol procurement. **Secondary Cartoon: "Custom Built"** A young woman orders a custom car with unusual specifications: silent motor, tires guaranteed trouble-free "after dark," one-hand steering control, and a "shadow-proof" rear curtain. The salesman's final suggestion reveals the joke—she's ordering a getaway vehicle for illicit romantic encounters ("shadow-proof" implies concealment from view). Both pieces satirize how Prohibition-era Americans openly circumvented laws.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Couple of Tired Business Men Go to Canada for the Fishing “We t, Harry, it’s great to be away from the heat and the noise 'n’ everything “You said it, Joc. Where did the guide say we could get the liquor?” “Right across from the hotel. Say, I certainly feel better in this swell air. The guide says they only sell you one quart at a time but you can keep going back.” “Good thing to have a guy who knows what's what. This air certainly oughta fix me up like the doctor said. What had we oughta get, Scotch, gin or rye?” “By the look of some of the lakes we passed coming up on the train the fish- ing oughta be pretty good round here. Why can’t we split up the order and get some of each, huh? The guide says if we pve him some jack he can look after the iquor for us and save us the trouble.” “That’s okeh, Joe. You give him some Tue Aviator Wo Decen Not to Stor dough and we'll fix it up later. Say, it’s great to be wearin’ fishin’ clothes again! I feel better awready. We better get six of each, Scotch, gin and rye.” “Awright. Maybe we better not try to leave town today, Harry. We better rest up before we make for the woods. You have to drive in thirty miles from here, the guide says. How much dough will I give this Indian to get liquor?” “Give him fifty. Thirty miles, huh? And a tough trip, too, I'll bet. Give him fifty, Joe, and tell him to get Scotch, rye and gin until he runs out of money.” “Okeh, Harry. Say, I feel great aw- ready, don’t you? This air is fixing me up, I guess. All I need now is a drink and I'm perfect.” Leslie Roberts. Tuere’s no accounting for tastes; unless, of course, it’s a taste of lipstick. Custom Built Younc Lavy (ordering car): The motor must be silent. SavesMAN: Most certainly. Youne Lavy: The tires must be gua anteed not to develop any trouble afte dark, Sacesman: It can be arranged. Younc Lavy: The steering gear must be of the one-hand-control type. SacesMAN: That is understood. Younc Lavy: And the upholstery si centering. SaresMan: Precisely. Younc Lavy (pondering): Have | forgotten anything? SavesMAN: Yes, miss. There's the reat curtain. Youne Lavy: The rear curtain? Wh about the rear curtain? SavesMan: I presume you'd like # shadow-proof. Bill Sykes. But ing | a co isn’t a They new Post. 7 City men stylis day t of th it lea rente: be ab year’ oney of ot being functi ro McPh into you, | coon thirds Mexic dena, Arr J cently the on his b: teady Lam Or wrth runner whiske night. He in tow the ney front | comicbooks.com