Life, 1920-07-29 · page 7 of 36
Life — July 29, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a sentimental poem by Jennie Betts Hartswick celebrating old, worn clothing—"the garments of yesteryear"—found in attics and drawers. The poem romanticizes these tattered items as treasured memories. The two illustrated scenes below depict contrasting economic scenarios. The left panel shows what appears to be a poorer family in humble circumstances, while the right shows a wealthier household. The caption "COMPARATIVE VALUES" with dialogue about "been fish'n" and "two of them" suggests the satire: the cartoonist is mocking the disparity between social classes and their material possessions, implying that old clothes hold equal or greater sentimental value regardless of economic status. The humor lies in this ironic juxtaposition of sentiment versus actual wealth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
All the old clothes of yesteryear? | HERE are the clothes of yesteryear— | And of the year before? Bare is the cupboard—shelf and hook ; ‘ Barren, the garret’s cobwebbed nook; Empty, the darksome drawer! , Why should they strangely disappear— \ The Clothes of Yesteryear Where are the clothes of yesteryear? Ea: h. Seek them where dut pleasure calls; Seck them in learning’s classic halls— Office or club or church, Rich and lowly, alike, appear Wearing the clothes of yesteryear. would be the Honor the clothes of yesteryear, Deal witl Don them tenderly; and make them last, Friends of an opulent era past; Stout may their fabric be! Drink long life to their new career— Here's to the cloth terycar! YG | > ARES | = = ks = | “BEEN FISHIN’, HAVE YE, YOU COOD-FER-NOTHING LOAFER?” COMPARATIVE VALUES “OH, JIM, TWO OF THEM! YOU ARE SIMPLY WONDERFUL!” comicbooks.com