Life, 1920-09-23 · page 17 of 40
Life — September 23, 1920 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical illustration depicts a domestic scene mocking hypocrisy about sympathy and morality. A mother consoles her daughter "Mildred" before meeting their father in the library, assuring her of his sympathetic nature. The daughter's response reveals the satire: she sarcastically notes the father feels "sorry for the people to whom he owes money"—implying he's a debtor who claims emotional sensitivity while avoiding financial obligations. The cartoon critiques wealthy individuals who present themselves as compassionate and understanding while neglecting their debts. The Art Deco styling and fashionable clothing suggest upper-class subjects, making the social commentary sharper: even the privileged pretend virtue while shirking responsibility. The joke targets the disconnect between professed morality and actual conduct.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ASUAESEOUMSLIISERSSESSEUSDS ART ERESEESTUSEDSOTULUETTE “NOW, MILDRED, YOU MUSTN’T BE DISTURBED BECAUSE YOUR DEAR FATHER WISHES TO SEE YOU IN THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW HE IS ALWAYS SO SYMPATHETIC.” “YES, MAMMA, I KNOW, ME ACTUALLY FEELS SOKKY FOX THE PEOPLE TO WHOM HE OWES MONEY,” comicbooks.com