Life, 1920-04-22 · page 14 of 44
Life — April 22, 1920 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes upper-class family tensions around progressive politics. The main cartoon shows a domestic debate: a woman (labeled a "direct-action socialist"), her mother (a "reactionary aristocrat"), a man in modern dress, and a young boy. The caption promises "A Politico-Domestic Crisis of the Near Future," suggesting anxiety about how socialist and progressive ideologies might divide wealthy families. The smaller cartoon below, titled "The First Violet and the Reception Committee," shows figures frantically chasing or presenting a violet—likely mocking the social competition and performative status-seeking among the wealthy elite. The humor targets both progressive activism and upper-class pretension, suggesting that political ideology creates absurd domestic conflict among the privileged.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A POLITICO-DOMESTIC CRISIS OF THE NEAR FUTURE Is A DIKECT*ACTION SOCIALIST, MOTHLK A KEACTIONARY ARISTOCRAT, 50N A Mote SOCIALIST, AND FATHER A NON-RESISTANT MEMMPK OF THE BOUKGE Evens of the Week Vote: Accommodation at these spectacles cannot Bera guaranteed. So many he residents of New the Entertainments Offered in No . e ¢ his Week, Compiled from Observation of Best Drasxing Cards of the Metropolis Moxe) Broadway and John Street. A hoisted to the twentieth story of the building on the habitually frequent exhibitions of this times dithicule for the visitor to secure s ever, with the exercise of a little firmness, excellent pos tions may he secured Additional bulletins of coming attractions will be p right-hand corner, 11:23 4, M lished from time to time. Teespay: Madison Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street cast side, Man will paint sign, 1:00-4:36." Mt Wroxesoay: One Hundred athiStrecaad Ame | “takes ollly one sat! oneal periceatsof Benes sterdam Avenue newshoys will engage in argument, , (Note: Get there early and avoid the rush.) Tuvrspay: Eighty-sixth Street and Broadwa. Nuto- mobile will stall, and man will make ineffectual attempts to start it, 8:30 Pp. oM Re prepared to offer gratuitous advice Fripay: Park Place, near old City Hall. Horse will slip and fall, 10:18 a. M SaTurvay Fifth Avenue and Twenty-third Street Window-washers will be at work on fourteenth story of Flatiron Building, 8:00 a, M.-1t:30 4. 4. Wear soft collar to avoid abrasion of hack of neck. Npay: Fifth Avenue, south from Vifty-seventh Street to Forty-fourth, Girl with newest short-skirt design will promenade, 5:00 Pp, M. THE FIRST VIOLET AND THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE. comicbooks.com