Life, 1920-04-08 · page 13 of 44
Life — April 8, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two illustrated stories and social commentary typical of Life's satirical approach. **"In the Spring"** depicts a conversation between the narrator and poet Murray in a car, satirizing spring's romanticization. Murray complains about inflation ("butter" costs 75 cents a pound; bacon "soars") while the narrator and others wax poetic about spring. The story mocks the disconnect between sentimental seasonal celebration and economic hardship—people praise spring's beauty while facing financial strain. **"The Poor Little Rich Girl"** illustration (lower left) shows a wealthy child in contrast to the economic commentary above. **"Panic"** presents a brief joke about someone catching the flu after drinking reserve stock. The final text block suggests Life's broader concern: people attempting to solve contemporary problems (likely economic) without acknowledging their complexity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIF E- In the Spring T was spring. Murray, the poet, entered the car and took a seat be- side me. Rare luck. Elegantly, and with ease, Murray would express for me all those pretty conceits about spring that I, perforce, keep bottled up in perpetuity. “Have you ever known a more delightful spring day?” I began, my ear cocked for a rhapsody. “Butter,” said Murray sententiously, “is seventy-five cents a pound. Bacon still soars. chuckle-headed grocer, I understand, buys a new car every three months, How it's all going to wind up gets me.” “Murray,” I said reproachfully, “lovely spring is with us in. On such a day as this, you, of all men, should sound a loftier note.” “Spring is about the most overrated affair there is,” snapped Murray. “Next week I'm going to work time- keeping in the brickyard, and I wish I were in Cochin China right now, chewing a betel nut.” I was glad, indeed, when Murray left me. The seat was taken by a dapper little man who entered into conversa- tion with me directly. His clothes were superfine, and he sported a diamond that made me blink whenever I looked at it “What an adorable spring day!” said the dapper little man, beaming at me over his spectacles. “ No other season seems So pregnant with life and promise and beauty. How futile appear all the petty undertakings of man, in the con- tion of Nature's greatest miracle, spring.” “A poet, sir?” I queried, with interest. * Why, no,” he replied, with something of a flutter. “I'm in the wholesale grocery business. But speaking of spring, doesn’t it awaken—" he train flashed into my station, and I took a hurried THE POOR LITTLE RICH CIRL St. Peter: oovness! wo are you? “a'M THE MIGH COST OF LIVING.” leave of the grocer. I thought of Murray, and a startling conviction was borne upon me. That afternoon I ordered two new suits from my tailor. He raved about spring for twenty-five minutes by the clock, and told me all about the “ sighing Strephon.” I visited a real-estate agent, and paid him the balance due upon my property. The real-estate agent actually wanted to sing a song about the spring, but 1 wouldn't stop to hear him. I paid the coal man his bill, and the coal man recited— about spring Then I called upon Murray, at his home. We had a heart-to-heart talk, and I saved him from the brickyard by the loan of a couple of hundred. I left him writing an Ode to Spring, which he assured me confidentially would live forever. In the spring everything is rosy—provided you have the money. Joseph P. Hanrahan, Panic =D: Tom thought he was catching the “ he scared? Nep: Surest thing you know. serve stock. Was He drank up all his re- HERE is only one problem to-day. and that is, how to deal with the people who are trying to solve it comicbooks.com