Life, 1916-06-22 · page 16 of 48
Life — June 22, 1916 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satire: **"Made in Heaven?"** is a short story about a wealthy couple whose romantic encounter in San Francisco turns out to be a hoax. The twist: both the husband and wife were working-class service employees (waiter and cloakroom girl) who deceived each other about their wealth and status. Their lavish courtship was entirely performative. The satire mocks both the nouveau riche pretension of the era and the superficiality of marriages based on assumed wealth rather than genuine compatibility. **"France"** is a poem by McLandburgh Wilson offering a shifting perspective on France—from frivolous April sky to sunset to warrior constellation. It appears to reference France's military struggles, likely relating to WWI concerns. **"Weasel Words Is Good"** is a brief note praising the phrase "weasel words" (language that obscures meaning) and crediting its origin to an 1900 *Century* magazine political story. The bottom section, labeled "ANY PITCHER," shows comic sketches of baseball pitching motions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE DEACON’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON STROLLING UP FIFTH AVENUE Made in Heaven? HEY met at the most fashionable hotel in San Francisco, She saw him first in evening clothes, conversing with a count from Salamanca. As he passed she drew her silken scarf closer about her and Iet one long, white glove slip nonchalantly from her fingers. He stooped and returned it with a bow. That was the beginning of the end. The courtship was brief, but brilliant. He called nightly, in the dazzling per- fection of his gala attire, while the taxi waited—for hours, And she?—luxury? —Cleopatra’s reception to Anthony was hooliganism by contrast. But spare the details! They were married that Sunday, in style—and relatives wept—and parents sighed (with relief, possibly)—and guests drove away with full hearts and empty pockets. It was a money marriage—pure and simple. He for hers; and she for his. After the wedding they went to dine at the most fashionable hotel in San Francisco. And somebody recognized him, And the truth came out. He was a waiter when times were good; and she was a cloak-room girl. And his brother drove the taxi. Myron Zobel. France W = looked on France as an April sky Where frivolous hues are seen on high, Nor dreamed that hers are the clouds of gloom Which hold the purposeful bolts of doom, We looked on France as a sunset sky Where glorious tints are born to die, *Nor dreamed that hers are the ordered stars Which fight in their courses to win her wars. But now henceforth when we look on France Another sky shall our eyes entrance, For out of her stars and out of her storm The rainbow spanning the earth shall form. McLandburgh Wilson. “Weasel Words” Is Good bat EASEL words,” words that suck the meaning out of one another, is pretty good. Wherever the Colonel got that expres- sion, he has given it a send-off, and it will keep going. A letter to the Times (June 2d) traces it back to a political story, by Stewart Chaplin, published in the Century maga- zine in June, 1900. ANY PITCHER comicbooks.com