Life, 1904-12-15 · page 3 of 44
Life — December 15, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a social scene with the caption: "Why go to Palm Beach? You could be ever so much more exclusive at some small resort." The joke satirizes wealthy Americans' pursuit of exclusivity and social status. Palm Beach was (and remains) an ultra-exclusive resort destination, so the cartoon mocks the irony that people seeking exclusivity flock to the same fashionable location as everyone else. The implication is that true exclusivity requires going somewhere *less* popular. The accompanying text includes reflective pieces titled "Wonderings" and "Unusual," offering humorous social commentary on human nature and romantic relationships, typical of Life's satirical approach to modern life and manners during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
““WHY GO TO PALM BEACH? YOU COULD BE EVER SO MUCH MORE EXCLUSIVE AT SOME SMALL RESORT.” Wonderings. I" oft inclined to wonder if An angleworm, when frozen stiff, Would meet with any luck at all, Supposing that it tried to crawl. ‘Then, too, I often wonder whether A man who set about to tether Ten tigers in a field like cows, Could make the stripéd creatures browse. F And then again, I wonder which Is stickiest,—tar, glue or pitch. Perhaps each, all or either are, But I should say pitch, glue or tar. And, furthermore, I wonder why A normal person such as I Can't walk about upon one hand— Some things we never understand. “BUT YOU CAN'T BE EX But most of all, [ wonder how A man can tell just when is Now, For Now keeps going back to Then, While Soon is straightway Now again. "Tis useless, though, to wonder what Is meant by this impressive rot. pp HE time comes when a girl deems it wise to pretend to know all of Love, though she know nothing. Later in life she deems it wiser to pretend to know nothing of Love, though she know all! Unusual. HERE was lots of football here- abouts on Thanksgiving Day, and some casualties, of course. In Brooklyn, Thomas Kennedy, for one, SIVE IF NOBODY KNOWS IT.” had three ribs broken and one leg seriously impaired, but that was merely the common lot, and does not signify. George Miles, of Tarrytown, enjoys the distinction of being the subject of an occurrence that was unusual. His ear was kicked off—" kicked off almost completely,” the report says—in the game for the benefit of the Tarrytown hos- pital. The hospital got the case, and doubtless made good its claim to be a worthy object. We offer George our con- gratulations and con- dolences.