Life, 1920-02-05 · page 4 of 52
Life — February 5, 1920 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains primarily literary and advertising content rather than political satire. The main feature is "The Father's Lament," a literary piece attributed to Kenneth L. Roberts, presented as a translation from Persian poetry (the Mesnab of Rumi). It's a moral tale where a father expresses wisdom about raising daughters—emphasizing modest behavior, education in arts and literature, and proper domestic conduct. The narrative describes his disappointment when his daughters ignore his advice, pursuing instead fashionable but morally questionable behaviors like smoking and dancing. The cartoon at top right appears to be a humorous sketch about late cabbage delivery—seemingly unrelated commentary. The bottom half features an advertisement for Empire Lockcraft silk shirting for men, emphasizing fabric quality and durability. This page reflects early 20th-century anxieties about changing social norms, particularly women's increasing independence and rejection of traditional values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Father's Lament (From the Persian of the Moolah of Rum) Ma father: hehold me! Tam wise and a father, ful children's sand ever ready to instruct way they should go. My hairs are gray and are weak; but I have secn many th s; and the of my mind are keen! Allah il Allah! Observe me jo me honor! Chief among my treasures were my daughters, the x turtle doves autiful almond trees all in blossom. The hair upon ads was dusky as the p ranate heneath the moon: their voices rivaled the call of the bul-bul their eyes were brown like the still pools of the stream Zem-Zem, Some daughter Allah il Allah! hast said it! In the wisdom of my years I said unto them: “ My zhters, give heed to thy conduct, that mighty princes desire thee in marriage. Cast down thine eyes, anc © thy faces beneath veils. Garb thyselves in. modest raiment, and go not upon the streets. Perfect thyselves in the care j¢ and in the regulation of serv and s ntly so that thou canst converse upon art d literature and music, and delight the hearts of thy suitors with thy conversation.” Allah il Allah! T am a father, and many griefs have come One of my daughters, the reddening apple upon my tree, the sweetest fruit among my leaves, obeyed my words. She walked in modesty, a conversed in honeyed words upon the works of the poets, Likewise she cooked the succulent Her, and garbed herself in scemly raiment which she constructed herself at a cost of only two silver shahis, Lo, she dwell till within my home, eat ing of my sustenance. Th s pass by, and no man eeketh her hand in marriage. Verily, she would make welcome as a suitor a noisy schoolboy or an ancient yokel lit no man cometh. Woe is me, and thrice woe! But my other daughter seized upon my advice and threw it to earth and jumped on the ground where it lay. She made loud talk on small matters. She knew na f the The Supreme . and cared less. She went forth upon the streets it Silk Shirting for Men iment that revealed her silken hosiery. She he market-place with ange shakings, known rate as the Shimmy. She smoked the rette and rode far afield in devil wagons The Loomecraft name woven in the selvage of the fabric, or the trade-mark label sewed in the finished shirt, guarantees superlative The neighbors wagged their heads and predicted evil beauty and durability. : “ae i a Ae hold, ahe hi : A . things of her, and | was ashamed. And behold, she hath Write for New Book of Patterns. ‘ f married a mighty prince out of countless suitors, and : endeth me rich presents. She attireth herself in garments | early of great price, and lieth about her home all day, keeping a OoMmicra dozen servants on the jump. And in the night she goeth SILKS forth and danceth the Shimmy endlessly REG. U.S, Par. OFF. Allah il Allah! Tam wise anda father; but when I was Emme Sik CoMPANy, 315 Fourth Ave., New York young loi this were not. T know not to what the world cometh! Verily, it maketh me ill. Who now will heed my advice? Allah il Allah! Kenneth L. Roberts. ly comicbooks.com