Life, 1916-07-20 · page 32 of 44
Life — July 20, 1916 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces: **"An Acknowledgment"**: A dialogue between a man and woman where he defends his idle, leisurely lifestyle against her moral criticism about duty and social service. He retorts by calling her a "silly girl" with romantic illusions about reform work, comparing her to a character from *Arabian Nights* daydreaming at an imaginary feast. The satire targets both wealthy idlers who shirk responsibility and idealistic women reformers of the Progressive Era. **"Head Coach for the Democrats"**: Commentary on Vance McCormick's appointment as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. McCormick, an ex-Yale football captain from Pennsylvania, is praised as a "reformer" who won't be corrupted by wealthy "interests." The piece sarcastically notes that while he represents "high ground" principles, American political campaigns rarely achieve such ideals—implying most politicians accept corrupt funding. The cartoon "The Coronation" (bottom) appears to be political satire, though its specific reference is unclear from context alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Little City Girl: HOLD THAT CALF! An Acknowledgment CAME upon her sitting in an alcove. That is always a fine place to come upon a pretty girl. I even prefer it to a conservatory, which is likely to be larger and over-lighted. “T want to talk to you about your duty,” she said, “Tam delighted to listen,” I replied, “to anything from you—even so di: agreeable a thing as duty.” “Well, then, you are not doing your duty—either by your fellow men or yourself. You perform no social serv- ice, you engage in no reforms, you have steadily refused to hold any office, you do not even earn your living—but live upon the labor of others.” “Isn't it lucky for me that I am si fortunately situated?” I bantered back, “and added to ft all such a delightful companion.” She frowned. “Will you never be in earnest with me,” she exclaimed, “and treat me as if I had a brain? Why are you eter- nally evading the question? It is cow- ardly of you to parry my statement about you.” “Do you want me to answer back?” “Ido.” ay! COUNTRY BOYS ARE STRONG! JUST LOOK AT HIM “As if you were a man and there was no quarter between us?” Yes.” “Well, then, you are just a silly girl —how's that to begin on? Then you cherish a silly little feminine illusion— you foolishly imagine that it is your mission either to start something or to help some other crazy woman de- velop a new fad. You vegetate upon these emotions just as if they were really intellectual. You are like the barber in the ‘Arabian Nights,’ sitting at an imaginary feast. No, I’m not through yet—I’ve something worse coming—I was going to define you. Aren't you just a combination of prig and highbrow?” She got up. Tke alcove reflected the green from her eyes, burning slowly into mine. “You are a brute!” “T know it,” I replied gently. “ Any man’s a brute who tells a woman the truth.” Head Coach for the Democrats N_ ex-Yale football captain from Pennsylvania has been caught for chairman of the National Democratic Committee—Vance McCormick, a good man; rich, able, practiced and husky, and a reformer, It seems like an excellent choice. The Courier-Journal says: He is not a fat-fryer. No party intending to amass a campaign fund from the “interests” would place McCormick at the head of the cam- paign. His selection, above all, gives notice to the American people that the campaign is to be run on high ground. “Only, and unhappily,” as you say, Marse Henry, “ our political campaigns are never very ‘high-level.’ T is easier to renounce than to make a huge success out of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Hence there are more monks than millionaires. THE CORONATION