Life, 1921-07-14 · page 13 of 34
Life — July 14, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary and humorous sketches typical of Life magazine's social satire. **"The Bridge of Sighs"** is a column by Dorothy Parker critiquing upper-class domestic life, particularly women's complaints about card games, grocery shopping independence, and marital dissatisfaction. The accompanying caricature shows a woman at a phonograph, with the caption "Adores Her Own Phonetics"—mocking a woman named Lydia Bohn for her affected, self-absorbed manner of speaking. The bottom illustrations appear to be classical references: "Demosthenes swallows a pebble" and "Ajax defies a lightning rod agent" are humorous modern reinterpretations of historical/mythological figures, using anachronistic situations (a lightning rod agent) for comedic effect. The "Variety" and "Favored" sections contain brief social observations and witticisms about upper-class leisure activities and marital dynamics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
July 14 The Bridge of Sighs “ EVER saw such cards as I hold. Well, you know what they say,— unlucky at cards, lucky at—” “— simply awful what we’re paying her. And every Thursday and Sunday off, and won't have anything to do with the chil- dren, and when I asked her if she would mind just washing out my pink Georgette blouse, I wish you could have heard—” “—just wish you could look at my hand. Really, you lose interest in the game when you hold nothing but cards like—" ‘—send the groceries over any time they feel like it, they’re so independent. As | said to Harvey last night, I’m sure I don’t know what we're coming—” more like a foot than a hand. Who this mess, that’s what I want to—” ist green satin with not a thing on it, not even a bit of hand-embroidery. And what do you think they charged—” “—do wish I could hold some decent cards for a change. I’d like to see what a good hand looks like, just once—” “—tried that, and I've tried Turkish baths, and I've tried everything else. I've been to some of the biggest special- ists in Springfield, and not one of them could do a thing for—” ‘—haven’t seen a face card all after- And yet last night, over at the Basset’s, George and I seemed to hold all the cards—” “—problem what to have for dinner, Ed is so fussy about his food. Chicken is so high now, and he won't eat lamb, and the children don’t care for fish. I declare, sometimes I feel like shutting up the house and going to a hotel to—” “—awfully sorry, partner, I thought surely we'd make it that time. But I just couldn’t seem to get over to those spades in your hand—” Dorothy Parker. noon. Md Mlle VAMES MOnTTOMeRy FLAGe ADORES HER OWN PHONETICS A lady named Lydia Bohn Loves to talk, chatter, buzz and intone; When she’s bored friends to death Or has used up her breath She puts records on of her own! Variety HE husband of Madeleine Young Stole horses until he was hung. She married his brother More plain than the other, But not, so she said, so high-strung. Favored ‘TS the motoring good in this part of the country?” “We have some of the best detours the State can provide.” Demosthenes swallows a pebble A Week-ender’s Definition of a Week-end PLACE that costs you fifty dollars to reach, a hundred to stay in, and where you h: the privilege of doing what you don't want ‘to do with some one you don’t want to do it with. GATHA: the most Chicago. Wiper: Yes, shi band ahead of any other woman, I hear Mrs. Howard is attractive matron in Ajax defies a lightning rod agent comicbooks.com