Life, 1920-12-09 · page 15 of 44
Life — December 9, 1920 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page contains social satire about child behavior and manners. The main cartoon depicts two adults (appearing to be Horatio Dibble and an older gentleman) reacting with disapproval to children's "baby talk" — the repetition of "nummy, nummy, nummy" during a meal. The dialogue criticizes this behavior as both ridiculous and harmful, arguing it should be discouraged through social pressure rather than tolerated. The adults advocate swearing oaths to stop children from using baby talk, framing it as a moral issue affecting societal progress. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about child-rearing and etiquette, when strict standards of adult behavior were considered essential to civilization. The joke targets both indulgent parents and children's perceived affectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Recompense EAD for a hundred years The old tree lay, Telling of life forgotten And death to-day. With roots in the rotted bole + The young beech is gay, Telling of death forgotten And life to-day. “Children Who Prefer Sweet- meats. . .” *‘LJORATIO, old. thing,” remarked Al- bemarle Glimp, aged five, to his equally advanced colleague whom he had invited over to tea, “every day it becomes more apparent to me that we superior in- fants take arms against an evil which not only stultifies our best efforts, but renders us individ- ually ridiculous.” “Hear, hear!” remarked Horatio Dibble, languidly pretending to flick the ash from a very good imitation cigarette. “And what's the evil?” “Baby talk! Baby talk, my boy; foisted upon us by our senile elders, promoted by simpering débutantes and fatuous grandmothers. It must be stopped. It does absolutely no good. There's no sense to it, no reason for it. We certainly don’t enjoy it. And to those of us who wish to rise above it and progress be- yond, it does material harm.” “ How shall we stop it?” “Let us swear solemnty to discourage the use of baby talk primarily by unre- sponsiveness. If persisted in, we shall become militant. And we shall each per- suade ten of our friends in the younger set to swear likewise. They, in turn, will persuade ten of their friends to accept the pact. If necessary we can go on a hunger strike.” Albemarle’s nurse appeared in the doorway with a tray upon which reposed will have to rise and THE FIRST WARDROBE TRUNK Editor: Poet: No, sir! two bowls, the steaming, savory contents of which at once became the center of interest. “Hullo!” remarked Horatio. tea. I could eat a bit, at that. “See!” cooed the nurse. “See what nursie has for nice itty gentyman’s te: Ni-ice, twee-et, oaty mee-al.” Horace looked over at Albemarle. that “ over to the diminutive supper table, and “ Here's But y gentyman” had already rushed was beating frantically upon it with his silver spoon, “Nummy, nummy, nummy!” he clam- shockingly.“ Ni-ice Nummy, nummy, nummy!” ored oaty meal. “Nummy, nummy, nummy!” agreed Horatio heartily, taking his place opposite his host. Henry William Hanemann. HAVEN'T I READ THIS POEM OF YOURS BEFORE? WHY, YOU REJECTED IT, Maybe He Could Squeeze In AN I get a bath?” asked the arrival at the New York “If the Hudson River isn’t replied the clerk nonchalantly. Give Her Room LDERLY AUNT (to little ing down the banister): Johnny! I wouldn't do that. 4 Jounny: 'Course you wouldn't. How would it look—an old lady like you? new hotel, occupied,” boy, slid- Here, RETIRED FOOD PROFITEER (10 son): If you persist in marrying that showgirl I shall cut you off with a million, is ev that the builders have been putt up something besides build- ings. comicbooks.com