Life, 1922-01-19 · page 13 of 34
Life — January 19, 1922 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon depicts a humorous classroom scene where a history professor asks students to explain what causes the Tower of Pisa to lean. A student named Ida responds that she "doesn't know or I'd take some myself." The joke relies on a double meaning: while the Tower of Pisa physically leans due to uneven foundation settling, Ida's quip suggests "lean" as slang for being thin or underfed. Her flippant response implies she'd use whatever causes the tower's lean to lose weight—a casual joke about female body consciousness and dieting. The upper portion contains an unrelated romantic narrative about a ring and engagement. The cartoon satirizes classroom dynamics and student attitudes rather than any specific political event.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
e did said com- di. mor- “Very well,” said I, yielding in my turn. But the gentleness of the dove was in my tones alone. In my heart was the wisdom of the serpent. I knew Evelyn admired the ring, and | was determined that the beautiful diamonds which had belonged to my mother and which I was having reset ior future wife should be in her possession before the friendly lunch en- counter. As it happened, I could not fulfil my promise—or was it a threat? —oi getting her her own ring that But I worried the jeweler into and secured it by mid-day the next day. I drove at the risk of my license and the public, to Evelyn's house. I demanded and obtained an audience just as Miss Ingot’s motor drew up at the door. Fortunately, she lingered to give complicated orders to the chauffeur. ‘ “Don't be vexed, darling,” I said, hurriedly. “It was my mother’s, and night a fever LIFE you'll like it for that reason, even if you don’t for itself.” “But it’s splendid! It’s too beauti- ful! I never saw anything so lovely,” declared Evelyn, flushing a most celes- tial, rosy red as she bent over the box I held toward her. “Put it on at once,” I begged. But she backed away from me and leaned against a nearby table, declaring that she must get used to the idea. “Miss Ingot’s ringing the bell. Where’s your proper finger?” I con- tinued relentlessly. She finally produced it, with a cer- tain shyness, from behind her, and I put the ring on. “Now go and flash that at Isabel’s ye,” I said, superbly. f I cared about impressing her,” said Evelyn, tossing her head. “Do you love me?” I demanded, kissing her. “None the better for this,” said she. History Professor: Banter! ll Just then the butler (a lofty per- son) announced that Miss Ingot was in the drawing-room, and Evelyn left me. As she turned away her skirt brushed something down from the table against which she had been leaning. I picked it up. Bless her! It was one of the glass solitaires from B 's. C.D. Next Week HE Life Line page will constitute a historical docuthent of vast sig- nificance. It will contain all the most brilliant observations of our keenest wits on the Disarmament Conference, the Ruth-Landis controversy, the New York Police Force, the General De- pression, the Irish settlement, the crime wave and the current divorce news. Incidentally, the name of the winner in the one hundred-dollar prize Life Line contest will be announced. Can any of you tell me what makes the Tower of Pisa lean? Corpulent Ida: I don’t know or I'd take some myself. comicbooks.com