Life, 1921-11-03 · page 32 of 34
Life — November 3, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a fairy-tale satire critiquing capitalism and class aspiration. The protagonist Wymtyl, a commoner who defeats a dragon, is offered the traditional fairy-tale reward: marriage to the princess, castles, and diamonds—the ultimate symbol of upward mobility. However, Wymtyl refuses. The accompanying text explains his reasoning: traditional fairy tales (Cinderella, etc.) were built on a "capitalistic and competitive system" where success meant gaining "conspicuous idleness" and sitting "on a golden throne with one's feet on the people's neck." He rejects this zero-sum game where happiness requires exploiting others. Instead, Wymtyl advocates for a different system where people work for "the common good" and join "the United Workers of the World"—likely referencing labor movements and socialism. The satire mocks outdated class-climbing fantasies while promoting egalitarian ideals, suggesting modern readers should abandon traditional hierarchical dreams for collective prosperity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
New Fairies for Old YMTYL, the woodcutter’s son, had killed the dragon, cut his way through the magic forest, slain the | giant, and freed the people from all W. LDOUGLAS $700 & $800 SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN SPECIAL SHOES STYLISH AND | their disabilities. The King thereupon : HAND WORKMANSHIP $19.00 DURABLE SHOES $5.00 summoned him to the foot of his golden ap throne and said: : YOU CAN SAVE MONEY “My son, you have done nobly and ie BY WEARING deserve reward. The hand of my W. L. DOUGLAS SHOES daughter, the Princess Floribel; young- Int e best known shoes in the world. est and most lovely of all princesses, is | They are sold in107W.L.Douglas | yours in marriage. You shall sit or stores, direct from the factory to iy ret ; Sera ar St on An youatonly one profit, which gu: aaa my rig! ht hand, have twenty castles full \ to you the best shoes that can be pro- of diamonds, and live happily ever An duced, at the lowest possible cost. W.L. after.” Douglas name and the retail price is sWaiatyh thie’ wadeatier's © ; stamped on the sole of all shoes before ymtyl, t he woodcutter’s son, bowed An they leave the factory, which is your = politely but did not take the hand of the 7 protection against unreasonable profits Princess. W. L, Douglas $7.00 and $8.00 shoes BOYS SHOES | oy... Majesty,” he said, “I feel sure My nie absolntely the best shoovaluss for $4.50 & $5.00 that your intentions are ‘of the | ; “ e money in this country. They com- ) Ss are est, bine quality, style, workmanship and But if, without disrespect, I may say It wearing qualities equal to other makes | W.L. Douglas name so, they begin to date, as they say. ; selling at higher prices. They are the | and portrait is the || oid _fashioned fairy tale, in whose terms We best known shoe of : Trade Mark in the you still see life, was based on a capi- world. 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New York | am willing to marry her provided she | give up her claims to the throne, give away her castles full of diamonds, take | out a membership card in the United Workers of the World and join me in the struggle for the common good.” Wymtyl waited patiently while the dumbfounded monarch conversed with his daughter. And presently the Prin- cess Floribel arose and stepped down from her throne. “T am not at all sure that I like this,” she said, giving her hand to Wymtyl, “yet I’m a stickler for verisimilitude and I’ve always tried to keep up with the times.” And she and Wymtyl went away, while the King sent for the Court Je: ter and hurriedly ordered him to re- write all the fairy stories. Arthur Ruhl. The Vanishing Point Is she economical ? I should say she was. You ETHEL: Grapys: | ought to see the evening dress she made out of her last summer’s bathing- suit. Certain politicians could put Machia- velli in a kindergarten class and charge him for lessons, comicbooks.com