Life, 1921-07-07 · page 23 of 34
Life — July 7, 1921 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical play depicts a mother-daughter reunion at a steamship pier after nine years of separation. The daughter, M.N., sailed to the Canary Islands as a child and forgot English, learning Spanish instead. When her mother retrieves her, neither speaks the other's language—the mother doesn't know Spanish, so she attempts French, which the daughter understands. The humor centers on their comically broken communication: the mother's mangled French ("Ay been, mong ongfong") and the daughter's Spanish responses create absurd exchanges. Yet they emotionally reconnect anyway, embracing passionately while the Statue of Liberty symbolically shines approval in the background. The cartoon satirizes post-WWI idealism about international understanding and "mother love" transcending language barriers—suggesting that emotional bonds overcome practical communication obstacles. It's a gentle jab at American optimism about cross-cultural harmony during a period of significant immigration and cultural mixing in the U.S.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
July 7 21 Foreign Relations A Drama of International Mother Love Argument: M. N., 16, sailed when she was nine years old to her aunt in Tene- riffe, Canary Islands, and soon forgot all about English. When her mother met M. the little girl did not understand her. Then the mother, who does not under- stand Spanish, tried French on M. and they got along fairly well—News Item. Scene: A Steamship Pier ipiealaag My Child! My darling! M Cuitp. Habla espanol? No? > MorHer. Don’t you recognize me? Take the marbles out of your mouth. CHIL. Quiero tovar mi sefiora madre. Wot those hell? MorHer. Can’t you speak English? Cup (laconically). Nope. Morner. Er... polly voo frogsay? Cuitp (instantly). Arwee, arwee. MorHer. Ay been, mong ongfong, mong chair ongfong. Jee swee voo mair. Cup. Nong? Motuer. Wee. ? CuiLp. Voo nee mee kid par? iny Moruer. Nong. Cup. Whee! (They fall upon each other's necks.) MorHer. Commy jee swee hooroo dee yoo trouvey. é Cuitp. Mare! Ma chair patootie mare... Morner. Jee temmy .. . Cuitp. Jee tadorry . . . (1n deep ap- preciation.) Veevee la Frangce! Morner. Wee! Wee! Veevee la Frangce! (They clasp each other passion- ately. In the distance, the Statue of Liberty lights up, clothing them in her soft effulgence.) CURTAIN Henry William Hanemann. Laughter of the Gods The Screen version of Dante’s Inferno is shown at the Celestial Players’ Club An Exception Y disappointments are many because I usually expect too much. I thought the end of the war would bring everlasting peace and brotherhood among men. It didn’t. Every time I try a newly advertised shaving cream I expect to smile as the fellow does in the ad. I don’t. I thought prohibition would stop the sale of intoxicating liquors. It didn’t. I expected to become accustomed to the attractive short skirt. I haven't. ‘ When Chesterton arrived I drew a 6) Taro) week’s vacation money and expected to The New Double Standard laugh myself sick. I didn’t. “Then it’s settled I’m to see you for dinner? And we'll drop in afterward When #0 many werers confessed they for an evening at the ‘Cock and Rabbit’.” couldn’t understand Einstein, I thought “Delighted! Tl bring John along.” . I swouldet even or what he was driv- ing at. Well, I don’t. “Oh, my dear! It’s not the sort of place one takes one’s husband to!” comicbooks.com