Life, 1920-06-17 · page 27 of 45
Life — June 17, 1920 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces typical of Life's early 20th-century social commentary: **"An Imagist Summer Resort"** parodies modernist poetry's fragmented style, mocking the pretentious aestheticism of wealthy vacationers through lists of disconnected images (prices, hens, pop corn, sailboats). **"Our Course in English"** uses a disabled WWI veteran as a teaching example, critiquing government neglect of soldiers. The lesson's awkward grammar mirrors the soldier's stalled life—he waits indefinitely for promised government support that never materializes, satirizing bureaucratic indifference to veterans' welfare. **The cartoon** depicts a husband and wife arguing about an empty wine cellar, suggesting the wife married for wealth/comfort. This reflects post-Prohibition anxieties about changing marriage dynamics and economic hardship. **"The Point of View"** and **"Hope Springs Eternal"** are brief satirical verses about business partnership perception and voting rights—the latter suggesting Irish-American women's new ballot access (likely 1920s). Together, the page critiques privilege, government failure toward veterans, changing social values, and gender politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
An Imagist Summer Resort RICES, prices and sand and a beautiful green the hot sun flares and canned peas are on the piazza hens old hens old hens and a lovely freckle | boy under the umbrella I see a moon and pop corn on the beach black osculation and white sails in glare honk honk where is my week-end? Our Course in English sations for the Benefit of Those Who Wish to Obtain Quickly a Knowledge of Our Estcemed Language IS is a disabled soldier who is now passing. He is mov- « very slowly \\ does he move so slowly? He used to go so fast. But as before the war. He is a nice-looking young man, is he not? At one time He could earn a nice living. But why does he not do so now, spite of everything? lat is hecause the government has neglected him, Do you think that is right? I cannot say that I do, but that is a way that gevernments have. Will the disabled s ever get a job, and will he ever get what is coming to him? He has been waiting a long time nov, has he not? Yes, he has; but some day he may be taken Some day (that is a literal rendering, and idiomatic. Pupils By cannot expect to understand it at first) he will get what is com- MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE PUR ’ ing to him, Some day everything will be all right. , ~~ sce eC. ee a\ E are twenty minutes late,” remarked the passenger. “ Will we make it up before The Point of View we reach New York?” “No, sah; no, sah,” answered the porter. “No, sah. The engineer and fireman get neard Jones talk their prospects o'er tiiieana@ hal€for overtinie!” With carnest: mien and thoughtful frown, And from his treatment I was sure The firm was JONES anv Brown, Then Brown has held in earnest clasp My hand, and brought their projects down To where my fechle brain could grasp The plans of Joxes anv BROWN. But when their firm has been the theme Of other groups about the town, Their common rating, it would seem, Is rather: Jones and Brown Hope Springs Eternal KS. McCARTHY: Sure, and isn't it grand, Mrs, McCurdy, that ye have the privilege of the ballot this year. What a glorious thing that ye kin support Mr. McCurdy for alderman Mrs. McCurpy: Sure and Mrs. Me- Carthy, it’s supportin’ Mr. McCurdy I've been for the past twinty years. It's hopin’ Wife: om! WHY pip 1 EVER MARRY YOU? NOW THAT THE WINE CELLAR FATHER I am that whin he gits to be alderman LEFT IS EMPTY, YOU NO LONGER LOVE ME he'll be supportin’ of himsilf, comicbooks.com