Life — May 25, 1922 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "New Yorkers' Nocturne" This is a humorous poem about New York nightlife, accompanied by a satirical illustration. The poem references specific Manhattan locations—the Savoy (hotel), the Ritz (hotel), and the Commodore—and mentions astronomical bodies (Sirius, the Dipper, Cassiopeia, Gemini, Pollux, Castor) in a playful conceit about nighttime revelry. The illustration shows a well-dressed man dancing wildly with small figures (possibly demons or imps), suggesting raucous, uninhibited behavior. The caption—"Little Girl: He won't hurt it, mister—his teeth are too little"—implies the man is dangerously drunk or manic, though harmless due to his inebriation. The satire mocks wealthy New Yorkers' excessive nightclub culture and the chaos of late-night Manhattan entertainment.