Life — September 1, 1921 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical sketch from *Life* magazine titled "People We Can Get Along" (series XII). The cartoon depicts a social gathering where a woman seated on a sofa dominates the scene while three men stand awkwardly in the background. The caption suggests the satire targets a particular type of guest—a woman who spends excessive time making telephone calls during social visits, apparently monopolizing the host's phone. The men's uncomfortable postures and expressions indicate their annoyance at being neglected while she conducts her business. The joke reflects early-to-mid 20th century social anxiety about the telephone's intrusion into domestic life and etiquette, particularly satirizing guests who were inconsiderate about phone usage during social calls.