Life, 1921-12-08 · page 10 of 34
Life — December 8, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three unrelated pieces of satirical humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: 1. **"A Trifle Too"** (poem by C.K.D.): Social satire about a young woman at dinner whose fashion and behavior are exaggerated—her waist cut too low, skirt too high, makeup too heavy, voice too loud. The speaker criticizes modern young women as "a trifle too" much in every regard, suggesting they've abandoned propriety. 2. **"Say It With Flowers"**: A joke about a couple tired of each other. When the husband consults a florist about blocking his wife's view during dinner, the florist's solution—ordering flowers daily—backfires when the woman catches him "peeping" among the roses. 3. **"An Awkward Situation"**: Brief anecdote about an unwanted social call and an awkward dismissal. The page satirizes social conventions and relationships of the era.
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ng FancweR> ey “He’s a literary light, isn’t he?” “Fourteen book power.” Say It With Flowers ‘op upon a time there dwelt a couple who grew tired of looking at each other across the breakfast table. Also, the dinner table. “Shall I consult a lawyer?” queried the man of himself. Then, shaking his head in negative fashion, he added: “No, I shall consult a florist.” Beginning next day, a high bank of cut flowers adorned the dining table, completely cutting off the man’s view of his wife, and his wife’s view of him. “This costs less than a lawyer,” said the man, “and it looks better from the outside.” But in a few weeks the florist lost a good customer. The daily order was discontinued. The woman had caught the man peeping curiously around the roses. And she had caught him. A. H. F. One More Optimist: I believe the time will come when there will be no more jokes about the optimist and the pessimist. Pesstmist: If it does, we shall not be there to enjoy the relief. Tue policy of the five-cent toll bridge seems to be “cinque or swim.” “A Trifle Too” HE was a pretty little sprite, My dinner partner Tuesday night; A trifle old for sweet sixteen— In manner and in speech, I mean. Her waist was cut a trifle low— They're wearing them that way, you know; : Her skirt, perhaps a shade too high. (Such length of leg as met the eye!) Her cheeks were just a bit too red— The rouge had been too thickly spre: Her nose too white; her eyes too bla A color sense she seemed to lack. Her voice was pitched a little loud, To make it heard above the crowd. She told me things that, really !—well, I blush to think of, much less tell. * * * It may be I am getting old— I'm just about eighteen, all told; But the young girls I’ve lately seen In social haunts where I have been, Seem, as I pass them in review, Each one to be a trifle “too.” G.K.D. An Awkward Situation TY as I would I could not rid myself of the Bore. He was not to be dismissed by any- thing I did. “T must go uptown,” IT said; but he merely replied, “Very well, I'll go with you.” I invented several chores but he stuck like a leech. 6 Finally I hesitated in front of a pri- vate dwelling I had never seen before and said to the Bore, “I must stop here to see an old friend. Good-by.” I ran up the steps and rang the bell. The door was opened by a servant “Is Mrs. Robinson in?” I inquired “Certainly, sir,” he replied. “Step this way.” Platitudes Vanity never goes hungry. It feeds on itself. * ek As a rule, women who do fancy work don’t fancy work. * * * No week end strongest drink. * * * Dri Even the girl with the rosebud mouth can give a withering smile. is weaker than its comicbooks.com