Life — September 9, 1920 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This sketch appears to satirize a **"course in personality and charm development"**—likely a self-improvement or etiquette class popular in the early 20th century. The scene shows five well-dressed people (four men and one woman) gathered around a desk, examining what appears to be instructional materials or documents. The satire targets the era's obsession with **personal refinement and social advancement through purchased instruction**. The formal attire and serious expressions suggest these are aspirational middle-class individuals seeking to acquire "charm" and "personality" as if they were commodities—a critique of commercialized self-help culture. The cartoon mocks the notion that such intangible qualities could be learned from a course, implying the endeavor is somewhat ridiculous or fraudulent.