Life — February 10, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts an awkward domestic farewell scene. The caption suggests a couple saying goodnight, yet they remain lingering at the doorway—unable to actually part despite their stated intention to do so. The humor targets a common social observation: the gap between what people say and what they do. The couple's body language shows hesitation and reluctance, contradicting their verbal agreement to separate. The woman appears to be departing (wearing a coat), while the man holds the door, yet neither seems capable of executing the actual goodbye. This appears to be gentle satire about romantic attachment or social convention—poking fun at how people struggle with partings, particularly in courtship contexts. The title's claim that they "can get along without" each other is undermined by their inability to actually leave.