Life — May 4, 1922 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life's Calendar for May - Analysis This page is a calendar of historical events and observances for May, compiled by Marc Connelly and George S. Kaufman. The two cartoons visible serve the calendar's humorous purpose: 1. **"Post Office" cartoon** (top): Shows a frustrated postal worker dealing with excessive mail, satirizing bureaucratic inefficiency—likely commenting on the U.S. Post Office's struggles with volume. 2. **"I'll have to get a new hat" cartoon** (center): A man's head grows so large it bursts through his hat, appearing to satirize either vanity, inflated ego, or possibly financial excess/wealth. The calendar entries themselves reference historical milestones (Columbus River discovery, Civil War events) alongside contemporary 1920s observations (woman waiting for elevator, money order system changes), blending historical significance with modern satirical social commentary typical of Life magazine's approach.