Life — November 27, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Consolation" Analysis This page features a poem titled "Consolation" alongside an illustration. The poem describes someone overwhelmed by contemporary history—"Riots and strikes of which daily one reads"—seeking escape in old books. The speaker ironically plans to study obscure historical subjects (ancient Pharaohs, Greek manuscripts, stone tablets) to avoid current events. The illustration shows two figures on a park bench beneath bare trees, with the caption: "LADY IN BACKGROUND: WELL, JOHN, WE WERE JUST AS FOOLISH THIRTY YEARS AGO, THANK GOODNESS!" The satire targets those who retreat into historical study to escape present anxieties. The punchline suggests human folly is timeless—today's troubles mirror yesterday's, so historical escapism offers no real comfort. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about social unrest and labor conflicts.