Life, 1922-01-05 · page 22 of 34
Life — January 5, 1922 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page contains two satirical pieces: **"The Lesson of Cantaloupes"** is a philosophical essay comparing human nature to cantaloupe shopping. The writer observes that despite poor odds (only 1 in 25 melons are actually good), people keep buying them, hoping for that one perfect melon. He uses this as a metaphor for human optimism and perseverance—we keep trying to improve life despite frequent disappointment, much like marriage (a jab at romantic hope versus reality). It's gentle social commentary on human stubbornness and hope. **"Nonsensical"** is a short joke about marital politics: a wife who claims to understand nothing about politics still demands her husband vote her way—absurd behavior presented as typical spousal contradiction. **"Young Hopkins Is the Descendant of a Long Line of Horsemen"** shows a child riding wildly on what appears to be a cow or ox, suggesting inherited recklessness. The comic strip below shows "Willie Gets Away With It By Putting On a Big Front"—a child using exaggerated confidence to escape consequences. All three items mock human behavior—irrational optimism, marital dynamics, and bluffing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Young Hopkins Is the Descendant of a Long Line of Horsemen The Lesson of Cantaloupes HE papers report that shipments of cantaloupes this season exceeded twenty-five thousand carloads. They have increased steadily since 1915, which is affecting evidence of the in- corrigible recurrence of hope in the hu- man breast. About one cantaloupe in twenty-five is good when eaten, The experiment with such as are ordinarily bought in groceries is a long sorrow. Either they were picked too green and never could be good, or they are not ripe when eaten. But a really good cantaloupe, one in good condition, ‘is very good indeed, and in the hope of getting one the tragical experiment goes on increasingly, as the papers relate. Some misanthrope said that marriage is the triumph of hope over experi- ence, which is a lie, but the increased trade in cantaloupes is precisely what that man said marriage is. It should encourage everyone about the future of this world, which mostly tastes flat or | worse; but because it sometimes tastes good, people have gone right on want- ing it, and living in it, and trying to improve it, until it has become a habit of humanity. Nonsensical Crawrorp: Does your wife under- stand anything about politics? CrassHaw: Not a bit. She wants me to vote her way. Ok Willie Gets Away With It By Putting On a Big Front comicbooks.com