Life, 1920-03-11 · page 10 of 40
Life — March 11, 1920 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains three separate satirical pieces: **"Sophistry"** (top): A poem by Beth Chenery-Nichols contrasts how grandmothers' social scheming ("hoop-skirts and stiff-ended stays") resembles modern young women's tactics ("catch the men with cigarettes / And talk of ruling suffragettes"). The accompanying cartoon shows an overworked postman delivering parcels, satirizing mail volume. **"American Ideals"** (center): A two-column comparison contrasts 1776 founding principles ("Give me liberty or give me death") with 1920 realities ("Safety first," "Discipline, not justice"), mocking how contemporary society has abandoned revolutionary ideals. **"Zoologue"** (bottom): A brief dialogue where a curassow bird makes a pun about its own name, representing wordplay humor common to the era. The page satirizes 1920s social change, particularly women's evolving roles and behavior, alongside broader critiques of declining American values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A SUGGESTION FOR THE OVERWORKED PARCEL POSTMAN WHENEVER POSSIBLE, MAKE THE PARCELS DO THE WORK American Ideals 1776 “CA IVE me liberty or give me death!” “Free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of as- sembly. “ The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” “ Democracy.” “Governments derive their just powers from the con- sent of the governed.” “Taxation without repre- sentation is tyranny.” “All men are created free and equal.” “In God we trust.” 1920 “ Safety first!" Liberty, not license.” “ Censorship.” “ Represeniative govern- ment.” “Our dependencies.” “Discipline, not justice.” “The new aristocracy.” “The middle class.” “Universal military train- ing.” Zovlogue Sue the white-nosed coati mundi to the crested curas- sow, “Your name suggests refreshment of the days of long ago.” “Well, then, since names is names, old dear, I think I'll take a sundae,” Said the crafty crested curassow to the white-nosed coati mundi. HEN women get to be heads of corporations, will they Sophistry UR grandmas in the olden days Wore wide hoop-skirts and stiff- ened stays. To meeting twice a week they went And sly looks to their neighbors cent Their nets for catching our gra Were downcast eyes and “ Ohs “ Ahs.” To-day our daughters hitch and pitch In skirts or bands—I know not which They catch the men with cigarettes And talk of ruling suffragettes. To-day “It’s camouflage,” we say; "Twas “sophistry” in grandma’s day. But camouflage or sophistry— The game is quite the same to me. Beth Cheney-Nichols “ STRANGE THING, THIS ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT, THEY SAY still be considered soulless? THAT HE REFUSES TO USE ANY KIND BUT VANILLA CUSTARD.” comicbooks.com