Life — April 14, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon by C. F. Peters depicts a well-dressed gentleman in top hat and formal attire assisting a woman across a street or pavement. The title "The Modern Sir Walter Raleigh" with the caption "Watch Your Step" is a humorous commentary on contemporary chivalry. The reference alludes to the legendary Sir Walter Raleigh, who allegedly laid his cloak over a puddle for Queen Elizabeth I. The cartoon satirizes modern gentlemanly behavior by showing a man offering assistance—but the ironic caption "Watch Your Step" suggests the satire cuts deeper, perhaps mocking either exaggerated courtesies or warning against trusting such displays of politeness. The exact critique remains somewhat ambiguous, though it appears to comment on evolving social courtesies in early 20th-century society.