Life, 1922-01-26 · page 6 of 34
Life — January 26, 1922 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon**: A man named Binks receives a photo proof from a photographer. Binks complains it makes him look like "a mut" (mutt), yet admits the likeness is excellent. This satirizes the common social tension between vanity and accuracy—people wanting flattering rather than truthful representations of themselves. **Main Article**: Dorothy Parker's "Formule for the Great American Short Story" satirizes predictable fiction formulas by listing numbered plot devices (affairs, reconciliation, business success, etc.). The numbered examples mock how interchangeable and formulaic popular short stories had become. **Bottom Section**: "Rabbit Transit: The First Subway" is a whimsical poem by Arthur Guiterman imagining rabbits creating the first subway by chasing each other underground—a playful origin myth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Binks (looking at photo proof): “Ah! I don’t like it. I look like a mut. But you must admit that as a likeness it is excellent.” Formule for the Great American Short Story Dorothy Parker ‘HE hero will not propose to the heroine because she is the daughter of James R. Patterson, known as “Iron Jim,” and, consequently, she is heiress to one of the greatest fortunes in America. He eventually does. 2—Mr. and Mrs, Billy Curtis, members of the young mar- ried set of Bleasedale, are gradually drifting apart, owing to bridge, cocktails, motoring, fox-trotting and golf. On the night of the Country Club dance, Billy junior is stricken “Don’t yuh cry, Bill. They never can ‘nforce it ‘slong as they leave the lamp-posts.” with a fever. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis find reconciliation and the dawn of a new life at his crib-side. Billy junior re- covers. 3—Ralph Sedgwick, cub reporter, stumbles upon the great- est news beat the Morning Planet has ever known. He wins the grateful tears of the gruff old city editor, and the hand of the daughter of the banker whose name he clears of suspicion. 4—Mrs. Irwin Godfrey, stifled by riches and misunder- stood by a husband absorbed in business, plans making a break for the Riviera with Norman Keating, the artist, who is ten years her junior. She does not go through with it 5—Tommy Deering, half-back on his college eleven, cleans up $150,000 in advertising and the affections of his Boss’s daughter. Rabbit Transit The First Subway | Baa long ago, before the Ark was freighted, Before the glaciers marched in crystal masses, An engineering Bunny excavated The Primal Subway under roots and grasses. The other Bunnies viewed the yawning funnel, At first, with doubt; but then, resolved to chance it, They chased each other through and through the tunnel ;— And that’s the origin of Rabbit Transit. Arthur Guiterman Mo the wor me! sha tior comicbooks.com