Life, 1921-04-07 · page 15 of 38
Life — April 7, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous short story illustrated with ink sketches, not a political cartoon. The narrative depicts a banquet scene at the "Boomville Boosters' Club," satirizing small-town civic boosterism and pretentious rhetoric of that era. The story mocks the inflated speeches and grandiose language of local business club leaders ("lofty pose mere titles"), showing contrast between their pompous aspirations and mundane reality (a furnace that won't work, petty squabbles). The multiple scenes—in the cellar, bathroom, bedroom, and street—reveal the gap between the club's self-important public posturing and the chaotic, undignified private reality behind the scenes. The satire targets American small-town culture and its tendency toward self-aggrandizement.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
April 7 Grace: Helen A Big Night in Boomville The President of the Boosters Re- hearses His Banquet Speech, Scene 1—Down Cellar, (Leaning on shovel, gazing into coal bin.) * ENTLEMEN of the Boonville Boosters’ Club, I feel myself altogether too—too—what the deuce was that word ?—too— (Shovel, shovel, bang!) Ah, yes—too inadequate to express the— There, I guess she'll go till morning—to express the profound feelings that your recep—"" (Stumbles upstairs and finds no difficulty in expressing his feelings.) Scene 2—In Bathtub, (Scrubbing-brush in hand.) “As I look upon this gathering—or should I say ‘assembly’? It sounds more classy—upon this assembly of the pro- gressive merchants of this progressive community, I am—(splash, splash, swish) lamputinmindofastory. (Bluh!t— Bluh! Splosh!) Where the devil’s that soap gone?—I am reminded of an anecdote. 1 SAY, THAT RICH YOUNG WALTERS HAS GOT ETHEL HYPNOTIZED, NONSENSE, SHE IS JUST CRYSTAL-GAZING IN HIS DIAMOND STUD, It goes something like this— (Bubble- ubble-swash-h-h! Vigorous laving and lathering.) It seems there w certain colored preacher—(rub, rub, ith short breath accompaniment) who—Ouch! Who left that d-arned pin in the rug?” Scene 3—Before Bedroom Mirror. (Adjusting shirt.) “And so, gentlemen, we must not be turned from our great and glorious pur- pose by mere trifles. We must look for- ward—forward—(rummaging in bureau drawer) to still higher and more— Of course! I never knew it to fail—stud missing as usual.” (Goes to head of stairs and calls: “Oh, Matilda! Seen my emblem stud?—No, it ain't—I put it in there after the Elks’ time the other night —I tell you it isn’t.” Wife comes upstairs and finds stud on bureau under edge of eyeglasses. Exchange of sarcasms, He re- sumes.) “We must put aside all pretty— no, petty quarrels, and joining together in brotherly love raise ourselves individually and collectively to that (gesturing) lofty and sublime.” (! / Bangs hand against electric light bulb, breaking filament. Dark- Matilda to the rescue, More sar- He finishes dressing in intense Surveys himself for the last “Well, 1 don’t look so worse.” ness. casms, silence. time.) Scene 4—In the Hallway, (Mentally, as he dons overcoat and hat.) “Gentlemen of the Boosters’ Club—the Boomville Boosters’ Club, I feel my- self—" (Voice of wife: “ Dear, it's awful- ly hot. Did you close the furnace?” He affects to think whether he did. “Of course you didn’t! You'll burn us up some night. If you'd—" He retreats down cellar, Business of banking cinders on reg-hot fire. Ten minutes later the street door bangs and he’s on his way.) Scene s—On the Street. (Sees a brother Booster.) “ Why, hello! Harry. Great night for it, what? Speech? N-o-o-o! I never prepare. Just spill out any old stuff that comes into my head.” Curtain, Frederick Moxon, comicbooks.com