Life, 1917-11-29 · page 24 of 40
Life — November 29, 1917 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a nostalgic poem "To-day and Yesterday" lamenting modern progress—contrasting contemporary conveniences (telephones, automobiles, central heating) with cheaper prices from an earlier era (steak at 7¢/pound, eggs at 20¢/dozen). The satire critiques consumerism: we've gained technology but lost affordable living. The cartoon "American Exhibits" ridicules academic pretension and women's wartime activities. A distinguished mathematics professor literally faints while listening to a young woman read knitting instructions from a typed paper. The joke: intellectuals are overwhelmed by mundane domestic tasks, particularly those associated with women's wartime contributions (knitting for soldiers was common WWI/WWII-era civic duty). The German Emperor caption appears sarcastic—suggesting the professor has been "deceived" by underestimating women's influence. The final "Holly" exchange provides light social comedy about punctuality and social awkwardness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
880 To-day and Yesterday LOVE To-day with all the things To-day within my vision brings— The gifts of Science, Letters, Art, The vast displays upon the mart In works of beauty and of use, In measure lavish and profuse— And yet I mourn those days renowned When steak was: 7 Cents a Pound. My forebears knew no telephone To reach to some far distant zone, Whereby a lover’s vocal wiles Could travel over countless miles And take their messages of cheer To some poor Exile’s lonely ear, And yet what sense of peace there was With eggs at— 20 Cents a Doz. My ancestors in ancient days Spent weeks of travel on the ways That now in motors of high powers I cover in as many hours, And yet despite their rocky road Than mine theirs seems a lighter load To weigh upon the human neck With ’taters at— 10 Cents a Peck. They knew not steam for winter’s chill, No radiator’s click to thrill The dawning hour and let them know That warmth was come to ease their woe, Yet when the flames were mounting high Upon the hearth, with sparks a-fly, What joy to think of Pine and / Per Cord, All Split, $4 Cas American Exhibits “VY/HO is this?—a group of three, as I live!) And who are they?” “ Well, as you see, they are two beau- tiful young women and an elderly man. Doesn't he look intelligent?” “He surely does. I'll bet he is a great man.” “You have guessed it. He is one of the most distinguished professors of mathematics in this whole country. “But look now—he is beginning to clutch the chair, His face is turning pale. What can be the matter with him?” “Don't you see?—he is listening.” “YOU MAF DECEIVED DER GERMAN EMPEROR!" “So he is. And he is, or has been, listening hard. Why, the man is quite overcome. He evidently isn't used to such hard men exercise.” “Indeed, he is not. See that young girl on the right.” “Yes, I sce her. She has a type- written paper in her hands.” “And she is reading, isn’t she?” “She is. She is explaining from the paper the directions how to knit a pair of socks. Do you wonder now what is the matter with the professor? There! He has swooned.” “Poor fellow! He ought to have known better than to have attempted to follow a thing like that!" HOLLY (keeping an appointment) : I'm a bit too early, am I not? Erne (sweetly): Yes. We were just leaving without you! th js Comicbooksscom