Life, 1921-03-10 · page 13 of 36
Life — March 10, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece critiques social pretension and matchmaking. The left panel ("The Home-Town Bore") depicts three visitors from the provinces who disparage their hometown while visiting the city, yet claim they'd rather live in their own inferior metropolis than the superior one. The right panel ("The Would-be Matchmaker") shows a woman attempting to arrange marriages for her friends, displaying unexpected emotional reactions when introductions occur—suggesting her matchmaking is driven by motives other than genuine care. The "Clothes" section below mocks two young men's fashion choices: one overly conservative, the other absurdly fashionable. The satire targets pretension, social climbing, and superficial urban behavior among the middle classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Morch 10 THE HALL OF INFAMY Drawings by W. E. HILL Ill. Y hospitality, I fear, Does not include the persons here, Who, having left their native town To visit mine, proceed to frown At everything they see in this Inferior metropolis. The Home-Town Bore They greet with withering remarks The streets, the buildings, and the parks, The soldiers’ monuments, the zoo— Whate’er, in short, they chance to view, And mention, frequently, by name, The town from which, it seems, they came. And yet I must admit, if I Must choose a Hall of Infamy To be my dwelling, I opine I'd rather live in theirs than mine. Verses by ROGER BURLINGAME HILE I advance no special pleas For preordained affinities (Nor have I ever tried to prove That marriages are made above), Yet I invariably flee From mates whom others choose for me. The Would-be Matchmaker The person here depicted spends Her time in pairing off her friends; But they, when introduced, like me, Behave quite unexpectedly, And show, at first sight, symptoms of Emotions quite distinct from love. When she is safely in the Hall Of Infamy I'll gather all Her friends and bring them in, in twos Which she, however, did not choose, Clothes Te young men passed on the street in our town. The first young man was a symphony in brown. His hat 1: of a style and make that made it something more than just t. His overcoat and suit, both a pleasing shade of brown, Were conservative as to cut and had an air of individuality. Woolen socks and low-cut tan brogues completed his costume. the second requires more description because he was more resplendent. A green velours hat sat on his head at a jaunty angle. His suit was a nobby, one-button belter His overcoat was green with a gray fur collar and was very much fitted at the waist. His socks were white over cloth-top patent leathers. The first young man looked at the second and mentally thanked the Lord that he was not as other men. The second young man looked at the first and said to himself, “Good Heavens, it’s a wonder some people wouldn't put a little snap in their dressing!” comicbooks.com