Life — December 21, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page contains **two distinct pieces**: a satirical story and a poem, not political commentary. **"The Story of Mustasha the Barber"** is a humorous tale about a poor Baghdad barber who encounters a wealthy merchant. When the merchant complains about his appearance, Mustasha proposes a dubious "treatment" involving pouring foul-smelling liquid on his head—a practical joke played at the merchant's expense. The humor derives from class reversal: the lowly barber outwits the wealthy man through wit rather than deference. **"Imagination,"** attributed to Benjamin de Casseres, is a romantic poem celebrating imagination as transcendent—superior to science and logic, offering escape from mundane reality. Both pieces are **literary content**, not political satire. The page showcases *Life* magazine's mix of humor, fiction, and poetry during the early 20th century.