Life, 1922-01-19 · page 6 of 34
Life — January 19, 1922 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"Something Gained"**: Two men examine an old sedan chair in ruins. The joke plays on changing social values—the chair once symbolized wealth and status, but now that luxury has become commonplace, it's worthless. The quote questions whether society has gained anything by democratizing luxury. 2. **"New York"**: A series of witty observations mocking New York City life, attributed to Don Herold. These attack urban excess, social climbing among women, overcrowding, and perceived lack of genuine culture—typical satirical complaints about 1920s Manhattan sophistication. 3. **"Then Adam Fell"**: A brief dialogue between children (Willie and Elsie) innocently discussing waiting to "pretend we're Adam and Eve," interrupted by eating an apple—a mild joke about childhood innocence and biblical references. The page represents Life's characteristic urban satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ballade of a Sedan Chair N what forgotten garden-place, Fallen to sad decay, Do ghostly revelers retrace The paths they used to stray Where are the shepherdesses, pray, And shepherds Watteau drew . In all their bravery of array, When this old chair was new? Who is there now could go the pace And game the night away, Could stake his fortune on an ace, His life upon a trey; And take a pinch of snuff, and say “A trifle,” as they’d do, The men of spirit, at piquet, When this old chair was new? Good manners, gallantry and grace Have long since lost their sway, Are obsolete as ruffled lace And rapiers—and stay !— The powdered ladies, where are they, The lusty lackeys, too, Who used to swing. them to the play, When this old chair was new? LEnvoi This latter age, so dull and gray How it must sadden you, Something Gained Shade of that blither yesterday “What I want to know frankly, old man, js—is it Art?” When this old chair was new. “Well, it may not be Art, but you must admit it is unintelligible.” Charles Wilcox. New York ‘HERE is nothing distinctive about living in New York; eight million other people are doing it. * * * A lot of New York women are get- ting alimony who don’t earn it. oe 2 New York: homes, homes every- where, and not a place to live. * * * A sick horse can get a bigger crowd in New York than in any other town in America. * * * There is more sophistication and less sense in New York than anywhere else on the globe. ae Life is not as ponderous as the New York Times would have it seem. Don Herold. Then Adam Fell ILLIE (aged eight): O, Elsie, I know a fine game. Let’s pre- tend we’re Adam and Eve. Exste (aged six): Oh, yeth; but just wait till I finish eating my apple. Owner: Prospective Tenant: Doesn’t this chimney smoke? Yes: we have it this way on purpose—kills all the germs comicbooks.com