Life, 1921-02-17 · page 25 of 34
Life — February 17, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* contains satirical verse parodies and humorous commentary on early 20th-century literary figures. **"The Literary Mother Goose"** mocks prominent writers by recasting them in nursery-rhyme form: Shaw is criticized for loudly expressing opinions ("like a billboard in the sky"); H.G. Wells is ridiculed for his contradictory philosophical works; Oliver Lodge (a spiritualist) is portrayed as a drunkard; and J.M. Barrie's popularity is lampooned. The verses suggest these authors are overproductive, contradictory, or derivative. **"The Wise One"** cartoon (top) depicts a figure with an nearly-empty bottle, with another reassuring "don't worry, he'll be going soon"—likely satirizing a visiting celebrity or public figure expected to depart. **The three prose jokes** mock domestic life, real-estate culture, and advertising excess—suggesting Americans move constantly for real-estate profit, wives need tactful husbands to absorb criticism, and common sense remains the only thing society hasn't commercialized yet.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| who vily that course, ; way, | extra ion pic. 1g lines, world’s gar and ‘screen, ugh the deal of he real al qual- b-titls, by-play rroduce seen at i, Cri- re pre: heatres appre- 10 pre- short- M —_ irring tila: Mod- ster’s Hold —_ The Wise One: DON’T WORRY! HE'LL BE GOING SOON. The Literary Mother Goose WINKLE, twinkle, little Shaw! Why should I hold you in awe, Shouting all your moods on high Like a billboard in the sky? ig 2 song of Merrick, A kitchen full of cooks; Four and twenty prefaces In one set of hooks! When the hooks were opened They all began to say “Isn't this a dainty dish? We think so, anyway!” H. G. Wells, ven diffrent Hells; Where is Heaven? What is God? H. G. Wells! Oliver Lodge he felt a strange call, Oliver Lodge he had a great fal All of our critics, each armed with a pen, Couldn't make Oliver sober again. Daisy wrote a little book At ten years old or so; And everywhere that Barrie's read The hook is sure to go There was a man in Five Towns, And he was wondrous human; He wrote a book about a man, Another "bout a woman; And when he saw the books were good, With all his main He straightway wrote another book And labeled it “ These Twain.” F. Gregory Hartswick. might and HIS BOTTLE IS ALMOST EMPTY. Why Not > There is no reason why the p Memphis should move about so —The Memphis Commercial Appi OULD they be good Americans if they didn't? main bu Americans to move about. The real-estate business in America would suffer if they didn’t, and what would America be with- It is the out the real-estate business A Wise Man W! 3: This new cook is no good. Do you think I'd better find fault with her? Husranp: Find all the fault you want to with her—but only to me! COMMON sense is about the only ar- ticle not being advertised. comicbooks.com