Life, 1920-04-01 · page 38 of 60
Life — April 1, 1920 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1920s *Life* magazine page satirizes Lady Astor, the first female Member of Parliament in Britain, through a theatrical parody titled "Lady Astor." The subtitle indicates it's "an American respectfully attempting to return the compliment to John Drinkwater"—referencing Drinkwater's play "Abraham Lincoln," which presented an American historical figure to British audiences. The satire mocks Lady Astor's prominence and manner by reimagining her in a theatrical setting with Parliament members. The bottom illustration quotes Lewis Carroll's "Father William" poem, suggesting the piece uses literary parody to critique her age and authority—implying skepticism about an older woman holding political power. This reflects 1920s attitudes: while American media applauded women's suffrage, they simultaneously ridiculed prominent female politicians, particularly British ones, as inappropriate or absurd. The playful tone masks underlying sexism about women in government.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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