Life — January 16, 1913 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a humorous illustration comparing choir boys across three scenarios. The top section shows them "as they look"—innocent, well-groomed young men in formal attire. The middle depicts them "as they sound"—angelic figures with halos and wings, reading from hymnals, suggesting their pure vocal performance. The bottom section, "as they act," reveals exaggerated demonic or mischievous faces with grotesque expressions. The satire mocks the contrast between choir boys' outwardly virtuous, angelic public image and their actual troublemaking behavior—the gap between appearance and reality. This gentle ribbing suggests the young performers were known for misbehavior despite their pious musical role, a common observation about youthful performers in institutional settings.