Life, 1914-06-11 · page 7 of 44
Life — June 11, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine satirizes Sunday social conventions and parental hypocrisy. The top section presents "Some Popular Lies"—common false reassurances parents give children about worn-out shoes, firm beds, and babies never crying—contrasted with "Eminently Proper" behavior expectations, where Billy is forbidden pleasure rides on Sunday but permitted Bible-themed moving pictures instead. The photograph below, captioned "EDUCATED?", depicts an elegant evening scene with couples in formal dress strolling through what appears to be a classical garden or colonnade. The satire likely mocks the contradiction between strict moral rules imposed on youth and the sophisticated social indulgences adults actually enjoy—questioning whether such restrictive upbringing constitutes genuine education or merely hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Some Popular Lies “y’ S, madam, after you've worn these shoes a couple of times they'll fit perfectly.” “ My firm could scarcely get along without me.” “You are the first man who has ever kissed me.” “You'll find the doormats on the seventh floor.” “Madam, an operation is absolutely necessary!” “TI sometimes wish I knew how it feels to be seasick.” “Oh, no! Our baby never cries at night.” Eminently Proper ILLY (who is putting in a long Sunday afternoon): Let's play auto with the chairs, Mummy, and you take a ride with me! Moruer (with an eye to uplift): I guess not, dear; I don't really approve of pleasure rides on Sunday. Buty (after a moment of ecarncst thought): But this isn't a pleasure ride. We'll play I’m taking you to see a—a moving-picture show, of scenes from the Bible. comicbooks.com