Life, 1921-03-31 · page 32 of 34
Life — March 31, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine presents a collection of short humorous pieces and advertisements typical of early-20th-century American satire. The main comic sketches mock social pretension and hypocrisy: "Scenario for a Write-Up" satirizes flowery local newspaper obituaries; "The Stupidity of Intelligence" jokes about an audience member who understood Chesterton perfectly, defeating his purpose; and "Paying the Penalty" warns against insincere compliments—an artist gives away a painting after someone falsely praised it. Other brief items critique modern life: the "modern girl" faces criticism from librarians and reformers despite remaining unbothered; newly wealthy people lack refinement (attempting piano with "both fists"); and writers struggle financially despite offering practical advice. The dialogue pieces, sourced from *Christian Register* and *Punch*, use working-class speech patterns for humor. The **Egyptian Deities cigarette advertisement** (bottom left) uses classical imagery to suggest sophistication and cultural refinement as marketing appeals—ironic given the page's surrounding mockery of pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Scenario for a Write-Up “From an Indiana paper, via the Boston Transcript: Miss Hattie Bray has resigned her posi- tion as teacher. Her resignation will take effect Wednesday. Mrs. Parker will serve as substitute. Miss Bray has taught in the Marvin Street School for six years. Spill hot air on faithful services. Loss to school, popularity, characteristic traits, etc. and make other complimentary The Stupidity of Intelligence At Gilbert Chesterton’s début this prince of paradoxes was outparadoxed by a young lady in the audience who complained to her escort: ‘* Whatever did you mean, he’s intellectual? I didn’t expect to understand a thing, and I understand every word of it. You've gone and wasted my whole even- ing!"—Christian Register. remarks. Paying the Penalty Giles: Art Connoisseur: Where did you get this daub? Friexn: I picked it up in a studio; said something nice about it out of politeness, and the artist gave it to me. Art Connorsseur (sadly): Ah, you can’t be too careful—Royal Magazine (London). Curate: Giles: COULD the proprietors. I DIDN'T “ARDLY AGREE wi’ THE VICAR IN WOT ’E SAID ABOUT THEM EARLY MARTYRS BEIN’ THROWN TO THE LIONS AN’ BURNT AT THE STAKE AN’ LIVIN’ ON FOREVER. WHY Not? WELL, 2 STAND 1T.—Reproduced from Punch (London) by arrangement with So What Does She Care? The modern girl is a lowb Verdict of the librarians in comment The modern girl comes in for a lost criticism. The librarians find her brow us low, just as certain reformers find her aig too low. Others say her skirt is too bigs Despite all this, the modern gitl does sx repine, for the modern ks the mop. ern girl is exactly right wo York Herel, Room for Two The Newly-Riches were seated in thes handsome drawing-room—Mrs, Newly-Ria at the grand piano, laboriously picking ox hymn tunes with one finger. “Hang it missus,” said Mr. Newly-Rich, impatiendy “if I buy you a piano that size, I expes you to use both fists!” —London Morning Pes, The Unfair Advantage Evttor: I'll take your series of articks on “ How to Live on a Dollar a Day” asi give. you seven dollars a week to write en Autnor: Ye gods, sir! I can’t live es that—New York World. Ready-Made Phraseclogy Biccaro: Of course it is possible fora man to acquire ease and plenty. Mason: Ah,"but not in the order named —Answers (Londen), A rural exchange tells of an old womus being “knocked unconscientious by a chaxf- feur, who then speeded away.” We tive our own opinion as to which was the conscientious party.—Boston Transcript. NO CONSTITUTION Lire is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and British Possessions, Title registered in U. S. Patent Office. $3.00 a year in advance, Additional postage to foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents. Single current copies, 15 cents, Back numbers, after three months from date of publication, 25 cents. Issues prior to 1910 out of print. The text and illustrations in Lire are copyrighted, For Reprint Rights The foreign trade supplied from Live’s London Office, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, London, E. C. Canadian distributor, J. R. Tanga, 386-388 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada. No contributions wilt be returned unless accompanied by stamped ond addressed envelope. Live does not hold itself responsible for the lest # non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior the date of issue to be affected. im Great Britain. opply to Lirt, Rolle House, Breéms Buildings, Fetter EGYPTIAN DEITIES “The Utmosh in Cigarettes" “Plain End ox Cork Jip People of culture and refinement invariably PREFER Deities to any other cigarette Your College | Education, eee exe by giving part ol A Young Mania Caloris Sure time and rcs Whe Earned $3700. t interesting, dignitet Geld werk. No house to hou —n0 goods to be de livered. Each student 1s assigned an exciasive territory, often his own home toa ‘ finest class of pecple and receives a business t ing worth almost as much as bis time in colle. No Cost—No Obligation : emal school. private prep, seal Glee sod “warrenty. siodents ae eee by trying out the plan. Write today for ““Victory,"* the booklet thet the story. ‘The attached coupen brings it. U Review of Reviews Company 30 Irving Place, New York Scholarship Dept. VICTORY,” 2 college education. Name .. Address School Attending comicbooks.com