Life, 1920-12-30 · page 6 of 39
Life — December 30, 1920 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts a boy (center) surrounded by three figures on ice, with the caption referencing a woman's request: "Just like a woman—ye asked me to take ye down, an' now ye wanta change yer mind." This is a gender-stereotype joke playing on the idea that women are indecisive or blame men for their own choices. The ice setting suggests winter danger, making the humor darker—the implication being that the woman's changing mind could have serious consequences. The text sections below cover unrelated satirical pieces: "New Year's Resolutions" mocks resolution-making, while "Father Time Owns Up at Last" features Father Time discussing post-WWI issues (Russia, Japan, crime, taxes, divorces) with a Life reporter, reflecting contemporary 1920 concerns about social upheaval following the war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Boy New Year's Resolutions ECAUSE it is the custom, Though breakage I abhor, I'll make a few—and bust 'em Is not that what they're for? Father Time Owns Up at Last 'ATHER TIME was interviewed yes- terday in his new bungalow just this side of the River Styx “Can you give the readers of Lire any idea as to the year?” asked our reporter. “Tt would be incompatible with the di nity of my office and a distinct violation of my treaty with the Millennium to give away in advance the plot of any particu- lar year.” “But in a general way—without violat- ing any of your well-known rules can give some indication. How about the weather?” “T. shall weather as my fancy dictates, and I hope program for the coming you continue to distribute the to spring the usual disagreeable surprise “How about the teachers?" of our school- pay JUST LIKE A WOMAN YE ASKED ME TO TAKE YE DOWN, “T think T nating discussions with no results.” “Um. Will Harding—?" “Now, now, my dear boy—no person- alities.” “Well, then, there's Russia, the Japs, nm promise the usual illumi- war and peace, the increase in crime, the length of the girls’ skirts, divorces, acci- dents, profiteering, taxes, and—” “Don't worry—they'll all be on hand.” The truth suddenly dawned on our re- porter. “Look here, old you hypocrite,” he 1920 AN’ NOW YE WANTA CHANGE YER MIND shouted, “you're trying to throw a bluff As a matter of fact, you don't know any more than I do what is going to happen— do you?” her Time stroked his beard calmly “Tf 1 did.” he said at last, “ what good would it do? Now you go back and tell "em all to go on living just as | have been living for the past million years—it’s the only sensible thing to do.” “And that is— “From day to day. Amity HEN Uncle Sam says to John Bull “If you will try to bear with my damn fools, I will try to bear with yours,” that’s hands across the sea It is on that basis that the Irish ques- tion will have to be settled. Improvement MOTHER: Now, Willie, if you put this wedding cake under your pillow, what you dream will come true. Wise put the pillow over my stomach? Why can't I eat the cake and comicbook $-COl