Life, 1919-12-18 · page 13 of 56
Life — December 18, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a poem by Byron Drake celebrating New York City women ("Gotham" being a traditional nickname for NYC). The text praises Manhattan girls as superior to women from other cities—they're described as "daintiest, merriest, wisest and smartest." The accompanying illustration shows two well-dressed women in what appears to be an interior setting, with a caption about a dog appearing intelligent. The satirical point is unclear from the image alone, but the poem's exaggerated praise of NYC women's sophistication and charm suggests gentle mockery of local pride and urban pretension. "The Coming Year" section on the right lists technological predictions (Einstein, Mars, etc.), providing context for the magazine's 1920s publication date.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S24] ac NY y\\ > SS LV eel cs! Che Girls of Gotham Gown The Coming Year THE tventy-four-hour clock I've given the frills the once over Rapid transit to the Fourth Dimen- In Cork, Christiania, Chicago, Ha- sion. vana, Acrial traffic cops. In London and Paris and Rome; Disappearance of space a la Einstein But no town, from Pekin to Dover, Etheric photographs from Mars. Wherever they’re swarming The flying flat Has any more charming Than those who call Gotham their home From Bronx to South Ferry the thor oughiares carry A tide that with loveliness swirls In silk, serge and satin; The lure of Manhattan Is made of unmi Built-to-be-blissable, “Momightily fond of Manhattan, Lovable) kisenble I like all its hurry, its aut Girls! scurry, Its buildings that reach to the skies: Its races. the Greek and the Latin, French, Hebrew, Slavenic ; Its air that’s a tonic, Its noise and its wealth and its size But though these may hold me with charms that enfold me Where Gotham's activity whirls, The chiefest of glories the town in store is Its treasure of airiest Daintiest, merriest, Wisest: cund-—wariest East. west, on the island | wander And. river to river, I'm ever a quiver With joy at this feminine mob; And as E progress I grow fonder Of gorgeous gowned Ii Or Mamics and Sadics Who work at a commonplace jol: T gaze in an awed way at th upon Broadway, Or Grand Street's assemblage ot pearls, Those smartly garhed, natty, vivacious ly chat Deliciously prettified, X Silly or wittified, Dt cmmrene Patently citified “1 DECLARE, MYRTLE, THAT DOG SEEMS TO HAVE ALMOST HUMAN Girls! INTELLIGENCE" comicbooks.com