Life, 1922-06-01 · page 11 of 34
Life — June 1, 1922 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch mocks romantic idealization, specifically referencing Arthur Conan Doyle's sentimental writing style. The scene depicts a couple in "Heaven" as "predestined soul-mates," with dialogue poking fun at saccharine romantic notions popular in early 20th-century literature. The cartoon shows a burglar character interrupting this heavenly reunion, delivering the punchline: he's returning a diamond necklace he stole during his previous night visit. This absurd intrusion deflates the romantic pretension—even in Heaven, earthly crime and materialism intrude. The satire targets both Doyle's melodramatic storytelling conventions and the era's overly sentimental romantic literature, suggesting such idealized scenarios are naive when confronted with reality's mundane complications.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE Strictly According to Doyle The Scene, of Course, Is Heaven. He and She Are Predestined Soul- Mates. She Has Just Arrived. Both Are Very, Very Happy HE (sweetly): I hope I haven't kept you waiting? He (sarcastically): Oh, nothing to speak of, A mere twenty years! “Now isn’t that just like a man? Besides, | rather expected to find my husband. “Jane would like that! for ages now, she and—” Sue (wide-eyed): You mean—your fe—and my— Bit of a Why, “Exactly coincidence, wasn't i “But it's—it's—inrmoral ! of Henry’ s— “Oh, you'll get used to it. The re- formers are wild, though. You ought to see their parades!” Sue (bitterly): And with that silly little— He (stiffly): I beg your pardon! “Well, anyway, I think it’s perfectly scandalous, so there!” There is a strained silence. very happy. To think Both are Sue (with sudden curiosity): And now that we’re up here, what are we supposed to do? “We sit.” “Well?” “And we realize that we are very, very happy. It’s very, very beautiful.” “But merciful heav—earth! Is that all?” “Oh no, there’s a dark side to it. The Spivinses call to-night.” “Wha-a-at He (wearily): The Spiv— “But, my dear, you must be out of your head! They’re impossible! Why in the world—” “Oh, that’s part of the jolly system, too. I was once kind to poor Spivins, you know.” . Sue (indignantly) : reason— “Not at all. It seems that everyone you’ve foolishly befriended on earth, takes possession of you here. The rules—” All the more “Do you mean to say that from now on we'll have to put up with every—” “Exactly. Though I must admit it’s a bit thick, our not being warned.” Sue (shuddering) : Why, it’s ghastly ! And that terrible old Chinaman I once fished out of a man-hole! Horrors! He (soothingly): Well, at least they can’t come for us to-night, dear. To- night we belong to the Spivinses. Once again silence claims them; silence deep and brooding. Both are very, very happy. With sudden de- termination she rises and starts off. He (grinning): I suppose you may as well; though it won't do you any good, you know. “Why, I thought it was ea down there! y to get in Am I to understand—" “Yes, that’s the amusing part of it. It’s really terribly difficult! There’s no faintest chance for eons and eons. (Yawning.) You see, we're all of us on the waiting-list.” G. R. Say, the morning paper says that when I was here last night I overlooked a di’mond necklace. Hand it over. comicbooks.com