Life, 1920-05-27 · page 37 of 44
Life — May 27, 1920 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains social satire by Corinne Rockwell Swain describing various Boston social gatherings of the 1920s era. The "Impressions" column mocks pretentious cultural institutions: a Literary Club populated by earnest young poets and affected attendees; a suffrage "Drive" Committee with well-meaning but scattered volunteers; an Afternoon Tea featuring flushed hostesses and bored society women; a Masquerade Ball with derivative costumes; and a "Private View" art exhibition showcasing bohemian types and foreign painters. The cartoon below depicts a man asking a woman for "a chance to square myself"—likely referencing marital reconciliation or redemption from some transgression. The satire targets the affectations and social pretensions of Boston's intellectual and artistic circles, particularly their earnestness and conformity despite claims of sophistication. The adjacent Chase Motor Topping advertisement is unrelated commercial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE. | Impressions Club: Gray coiffures; some nice girls; the ; earnest youths in shell-rimmed glasses; sedate vith gentle waves of humor; fewer cosmetics and re white whiskers and low heels; one visiting oung poets reading young verses; light guerrilla vers libre; a resolve to live the Higher Li soston words. Committee Headquarters: Lots of \tures: one marvelously efficient district chairman ; t but hen-minded helpers: a card catalogue which ing but talk; one meek, paid assistant, evidently t endered immune to hunger by remuneration else goes out te luncheon; one large, bossy D. \ tic flappers in uniform, veterans of the Libert juiet women who do most of the work yon Tea: Flushed, high-tension hostess; thirty “ung Matrons; twenty attractive girls pur ad- rom Paris; three bored old ladies in easy chairs. shat theyll get to eat; two elderly, resigned hu very young he-author; words, words, words ; violet a sense of futility; the discovery of a new kind all at the Summer Resort: Curious crowd irty-nine costume-shop harem ladies in shiny satin; ty © 1 op clowns; thirteen amateur efforts, hard te dassify: one “ Mutt and Jeff"; three Charlie Chapli three really clever and. original costumes, which nobody notices: prize cups cd to influential residents by visiting congress- man and local mayor. Private View: One distinguished foreign painter: at large, cushiony, bright pink ladi 1 the receiving line; a noticeable percentage of peo- a little unusual; female art students in weird but rics; informally dressed youths of Russo-Hebraic thumbs before Modernist canvases; some loose egeneracy, by conservative elders; a submerged rtet; overheated galleries; no privacy, no view Corinne Rockwell Swain ». Very likely ° you have made a “hobby” of fitting your car with the best Don’t overlook the importance of the top, and to really make sure that you have a quality top through and through, obtain Drednaut Motor Topping—oneof thefamous “Chase” products. L.C.CHASEG CO, - - + + BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO DETROIT SAN FRANCISCO / / J Guse “ALL 1 ASK, ETHEL, 1$ A CHANCE TO SQUARE MYSELF” comicbooks.com