Life, 1915-04-22 · page 16 of 44
Life — April 22, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces from *Life* magazine: **Top cartoon**: Shows a man in formal dress returning home in disarray—his wife apparently left at the train station—discovering he forgot theatre tickets. The joke satirizes the absent-minded suburban husband, a common *Life* trope mocking middle-class domesticity and male forgetfulness. **Bottom cartoon and story**: Illustrates "The Considerate Swan," a fable-like tale where a duck asks a swan why it has a longer neck. The swan lists practical advantages (better view, prolonged eating pleasure, reaching food). When the duck suggests the swan must feel superior, the swan politely demurs, claiming modesty. The satire targets false humility—the swan admits superiority exists but pretends not to mention it out of consideration, which is itself a boastful form of superiority. This likely critiques wealthy or privileged individuals who claim not to flaunt their advantages while obviously doing so.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HAVING LEFT HIS BETTER HALF AT THE STATION, THE SUBURBANITE RETURNS FOR THE THEATRE TICKETS, The Considerate Swan A MODEST swan and an inquisitive duck were once floating upon the bosom of a lake. “I have often wondered,” said the duck, “ what par- ticular advan you possess over me in having so much longer a neck.” “T get a more extensive view. Then, when I eat any- thing pleasant, I presume the pleasure lasts longer. I can also reach down farther after food than you can, which enakles me to increase the variety of my table. That is all, T think.” “ But,” protested the duck, “there is one thing more, and that is, that, because it makes you taller, it gives you an undoubted fecling of superiority over me, although, to be candid, I am generally credited with more brains. That, of course, may not be so important as the other practical “OM, GEORGE DEAR, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR WE advantages, Lut why did you not mention it?” COULD NFVPR REALLY ENJOY THIS “Because,” said the swan, “I was afraid it might make BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY” you truly envious of me,