Life, 1920-04-01 · page 53 of 60
Life — April 1, 1920 — page 53: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical essay mocking upper-class pretension and social anxiety. The unnamed narrator obsesses over Easter clothing etiquette—insisting evening wear is morally superior to casual dress, praising his new cutaway suit as a "moral uplift," and boasting about paying his income tax in full rather than installments to appear generous to the government. The humor lies in the character's obvious insecurity masked by pompous justifications. His dismissal of his tailor as "an incorrigible ass" while following his suit recommendations, and his self-congratulatory tone throughout, reveal the author's mockery of class-conscious affectation. The piece satirizes how the wealthy use clothing and financial displays to signal moral virtue and social superiority—absurdities Life magazine's satirical tradition regularly exposed. The adjacent La Creole Hair Dressing advertisement appears unrelated to the satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: /omelike~ Y hut still in the heart orthings La I 4 BILTMORE SY = bs SS / AF Reflections of a Snob P' RSONALLY, I believe that it is everyone's duty to go to church at Faster time. One cannot be too par- serve these forms. When form, as I have said be- ) great danger. nfess that I do not enter- same feeling towards the felt by some of my friend especially among the cler; I am ve fond of old friend Bishop B— pains me when he an on the shortcomings of the ich he declares is altogether tic. Yet I dare say that not for the church there ousands of ordinary people left without the means of religious solat 1 th ny friend lays too much sincerity. He assumes hurches are hypocritical, othing could be more ritual of the church offers »f conduct, and this is of t importance. I doubt if 1 ve learned to enter a érawing-room properly, or have known the prec oment to stand up, if I had not in my youth been made to at- tend church regularly. Without the church would all be more pro- founced Soors than we are. Talso tke pleasure in getting new Gothes for Easter; the season affords fan excuse for certain extravagances on ordinary occasions, I should about. Personally, 1 much eds, and I have rejoiced for ne at the way that we have ard sport clothes; yet one this sort of thing too far. Lately I have had a very trim cutaway uit made, and I find upon afternoons tis a very welcome change; it gives —_ me, so to speak, a sort of moral up- lift. I certainly intend to wear it to the Easter services. The truth is that our affectation for sporting clothes, or the easy, lounging suits, has gotten us into bad habits. Clippers, my tailor, when I informed him of this the other day, gravely shook his head, But Clippers has always been an incorrigible ass. His genius has all run to cutting and fitting. He insisted upon making me a dinner coat, very light, that I shall wear, however, only in the excessively warm weather. Per- sonally, I feel that evening clothes should always be worn in preference. I never feel quite comfortable in a dinner coat; unless, of course, I am entertaining a brace or so of men in my own quarters. This Easter I feel particularly happy, and I shall enj my service, I am sure, with an uncommon zest. I have succeeded in paying my entire income tax in the first payment. As a matter of fact, I totally disapprove of the in- stalment plan, which I regard as in- tensely vulgar. Besides, I believe in helping out the government. I able to manage this quite f s La Creole Hair Dressing Brings the charm France gave the Creoles Creole charm and the wonderful Cre- ole hair both came from Louisiana with the French and Spanish forefathers of the aristocratic Creoles of today, many of whom are direct descendants of no- bility. Their glorious hair is an evi- dence of their pure French-Spanish de- scent and a mark of the care they give it. La Creole Hair Dressing has been favorite among them for generations. It preserves the youthful beauty and color of the ir to life’s end. La Creole treatment restores color If you fear gray hair or if your hair is already gray begin La Creole tr ment at once. La Creole will restore the youthful color and beauty no mat- All La Creole hair requisites are noted for their excellence La Creole Hair Dressing + + $1.00 La Creole Hair Tonic . . . . 75 La Creole Liquid Shampoo. . . -50 At Drug Stores and Toilet Counters. If yourdealer can't supply you, send his nameand address. We will see that you are supplied. LA CREOLE LABORATORIES Memphis, Tean. Mademoiselle La Creole ter how gray, gray streaked, or faded the hair has become. La Creole must not be confused with dyes. Its effect is gradual and healt! ful, promoting the vigorous healthy dition of r and scalp which nature intende Two to five wor's’ treatment will bring back any shade — lightest brown to deepest black — whatever the natural color was. taste and re- finement approve the use of La Creole and there is no reason for making ar secret of its use though it can never 1 detected. It gives no dyed appearance, cannot stain the scalp and there is nothing to wash or rub off. It eliminates dandruff nd makes the hair soft, fluffy, lustrous and beautiful, Guaranteed to bring back the hair’s color or money refunded. procococo--------------| La Creole Laboratorie: 254 Tenth Street, Memphis, Tenn. Please send booklet, “La Cre Beautiful, teaching the b coming each individual Name Address. City. comicbooks.com