Life, 1919-05-22 · page 16 of 42
Life — May 22, 1919 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem by Henry C. Kitteridge mocks the disconnect between men's public and private appearances. The joke targets masculine vanity and social pretense in early 20th-century America. **The Setup:** The poem addresses "Mankind" ironically, praising how well-dressed and composed men appear on Sundays (calling day) and Mondays at the office—making a good impression on women and society. **The Punchline:** The repeated refrain reveals the reality: before his morning shower, a man is disheveled—hair askew, wearing a twisted nightshirt, stumbling blindly, bad-tempered. The satire is that men benefit greatly from women *not* seeing them in this unglamorous state. **Social Context:** This reflects turn-of-the-century gender dynamics where appearance and propriety were heavily policed, and men's grooming routines were becoming more important. The joke assumes male readers will recognize themselves in this unflattering portrait and find it humorous that their carefully maintained public image collapses in private. The accompanying sketch shows a domestic scene, likely illustrating the contrast humorously.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIPS: Beauty MaAskisp, thou art a gorgeous thing when dressed for calling Sunday— Thou ever mest spick and span at office desk next Monda The mid-weck sees thee, dressed to kill, assail my lady’s bower But thank thy stars she can't see thee before thy morning showe} With hair askew and blinking eye you roll from out the bedding, And stumble toward the washroom, but don't see which way you're heading Your night-shirt’s twisted end for end, your temper's rather sour— Ah, yes! 'Tis well she can't see thee before thy morning shower! We hear that clothes don’t make the man; that loc unimportant ; That all that counts is worth, not looks—and I suppose looks oughtn’t But let me say, at break of flower, So thank thy stars she can’t see thee Lefore thy morning ay you ain't no hothouse shower. Henry C Those New Notes IFE has no prejudice against the new United States loan, It will accept with equal pleasure and gratitude either the new notes or the old Liberty bonds for the relief New York's poor children during the hot weather. Two hundred dollars in any of the issues gives a poor child a fortnight away from the tenements and in the fresh air of the country during all the summers of the future. There is a slight difference in the income, but any excess of income over the actual cost of the vacations in each case goes to buttress the endowments and make sure the per- manence of their work for all time. We have received from a gentleman in New Hampshire who wishes to remain anonymous two hundred dollars in Londs to establish FRESH AIK ENDOWMENT In the eof GPM Kitured From Stephen Peabody, Esq.. New York City, w eived two hundred dollars in bonds to establish FRESH AIK ENDOWMENT NO. From his parents in Memory of Griswonp Haven Pearopy. A gendrous reader of Lire in Philadelphia who does not wish his name mentioned sends to us two hundred dollars in the new Victory notes to establish FRESH AIR ENDOWMENT NO. 33 NYMOUS. Two hundred dollars in bonds have been sent to us by wrban Host: HEY! OLD MAN, YOU Fol WE PICKED FOR YOU Departing Guest: 11's NO USE, MARY WITHOUT THE BEAS WE CAN'T SNEAK OF ¢ THING Howard Huntington, a Los Angeles, establish # ALR ENDOWMENT Memory of Mary Atice Hunvi \ Washington reader of Lire sends two hundre in bonds to establish PRESIE A ‘offering for as Fresh Air Endowment two hundred do Liberty s or Victory notes should be sent by reg mail to Lire’s Fresh Air Fund, Inc, 17 West Thir Street, New York City L this am! jes that child will be sent from the York for a fortnight’s stay in the fresh air of the c This work has now been carried on for thirty-one yea which time more than forty thousand children have ¢ health and happiness from it A Fresh Air Endowment may bear any designation its ¢ chooses nt prov Comicbooks.com