Life, 1921-04-21 · page 6 of 36
Life — April 21, 1921 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the "Modern Young Woman" of the 1920s. The main article presents Hermione's arguments for embracing Dada and Bahaism—avant-garde artistic and spiritual movements of the era—while rejecting traditional motherhood and marriage. The cartoon depicts a "Receiving Teller" at what appears to be a bank, with a caption about putting a dollar in. This likely mocks the commercialization of modern movements and fads. The satire targets young women who adopted radical intellectual positions (Dada, rejection of "Child Culture") while remaining financially dependent. Hermione's mother represents conventional wisdom, arguing such poses are impractical affectation. The piece ridicules both the earnest embrace of avant-garde movements and young women's attempts at sophistication detached from practical realities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Thoughts of Hermione SN'T. Dadaism just simply wonderful! We're taking it up in quite a thorough way . . . I and my little group of advanced thinkers. We gave a whole evening ‘to it last week, and threshed it out completely. Isso . 2. . 80. we Spiritual, if you get what I mean. Of course, Bahaism is spiritual too. But what a difference! well, The Modern Young Woman me! And if I meet with much more oppo- sition and persecution in my home, I shall leave—and live my Own Life!" That always settles her, when I threaten that. I made Papa give me the money to make the stable over into a studio, and when I tell Mama that I intend to live in it and Lead my Own Life, she just sits down and covers her face with her hands Although poor dear Mama doesn’t see the difference at all, Mama isn’t the least bit advanced, you know, and she thinks most of the modern movements and causes have something to do with Sex. Of course, a great many of them do! “ Hermione,” Mama said to me, “I wish you would drop Dadaism and Bahaism. I do not think it is at all proper for a young unmarried wo- man to give so much of her time to Dadaism and Baha- ism.” “Mama,” I told her, “I will express myself! Dada- ism and Bahaism are neces- sary to my _ self-expression.” “When I was a young lady,” Mama said, “ unmar- ried women did not give so much time to Child Culture. They waited until they were married before they thought it proper to take such things up.” P Poor, dear Mama, you know, thought Dadaism and Bahaism had something to do with bringing up babies. Just fancy! “Dadaism has nothing whatever to do with children,” I said. “ What did you think it was?” It seems, you know, that Receiving Teller: Newsboy: wi anit: Hy Haji ing them up too. I don't care how radical things are if they are only proper at the same time. But I want you to promise me that if you do choose the Dada for your own children it will be somebody that your Papa and I can respect!” She is so stupid! “Mama,” I said, “I am Modern! And you haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about! And the father of my chil- dren must be my spiritual affinity, no matter if he is married or not.” She didn’t say anything more, then. She just sat and moaned. You see, she had happened to overhear a little discussion we were having—my little group and I, you know—on the question: “Is Marriage Doomed?” And she heard Fothergil Finch, the vers libre Ppoct, say: “ Marriage is al- ways Indecent!” And _ that got all mixed up in her head with Dadaism, and the poor dear thought Well, she thought we were all going to take up E: in a serious way without bothering with matrimony, if you get what I mean. There are so many Causes these days, aren't there? It's a wonderful epoch! Just simply wonderful! Don Marquis. Enter, Madame “ ADAME, thrice wel- come to our “Lire, I respond com- senics shores.” WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE MANAGER POR? GOIN’ TO PUT A DOLLAR IN HERE. she had thought it was one of the Causes that declare that Every Woman has a Right to Choose the Father of Her Children. And, of course, she has. I believe in respect to one’s parents, but every now and then I have to settle Mama, if you know what I mean. “TI will choose the Father of My Chil- dren!” I told her. “ And there is no use of your trying to make an old-fashioned, mid-Victorian, Parasite Woman out of had explained to her! and rocks herself back and forth and cries. The world’s Leaders in Thought have always met with opposition in their homes. Martyrdom and Persecution and Mis- understanding! . . . that is what we expect. Mama didn’t understand even after I “Hermione,” she said, “I never interfere with any of your radical causes when Nice People are tak- , IF HE LOOKS LIKE A SQUARE GUY, I'M pletely to all your gestures of generosity, and yet—" “ Have no hesitancy in con- fiding to a true friend of yourself, and of France—” “I am_ bewildered by the lights of—of—” “ American publicity? Ah, madame, that is the price that true modesty pays for radioactivity. Do not mind. our warmth we honor you above all wo- men, always remembering—” “Yes, Lire.” “Beloved Madame Curie, that a perma- nent ounce of radium is worth a pound of ephemeral Republican Embraces.” THE comicbooks.com