Life, 1922-10-19 · page 25 of 36
Life — October 19, 1922 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life magazine contains theatrical satire and humor pieces typical of early 20th-century American comedy. **Main Illustration**: Shows a mother and child watching a man carry their baggage, with the child praising his kindness—likely satirizing false politeness or performative chivalry. **Theater Piece** (top): A comedic play sketch mocking overly elaborate stage directions. It playfully notes omitted descriptions due to "lack of space," "lack of paper," and "ink shortage"—probably satirizing paper rationing during WWI or post-war scarcity. The absurdist humor includes a "noiseless piano" and characters speaking in puns. **"Psychology Item"**: Satire on male ego. A man repeatedly tells other men that women are superior, seeking validation. When he finally shares this with a group of men, the largest one warns him to stop—because he'll eventually believe his own flattery. The joke mocks how men unconsciously reinforce masculine superiority myths through peer pressure. **"Impotence"**: A brief poem about fate and lost love, unrelated to other content. The page demonstrates Life's satirical approach to social commentary, gender dynamics, and wartime conditions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tuesday and Thursday. In the cen- tre of the ceiling stands a beautiful grand piano. There is a graceful group of furniture about it. Try to figure it out, then go on if you're able. From the floor there hangs a chandelier. There is a speck of mid- Victorian dust upon it. This dust is unique and extraordinary. The mat- is briefly discussed in the appen- ges 219 to 376. It is further mentioned in the preface and there are copious footnotes. The sun is shining brightly. The clock on the mantel has an oval dial. Try to fig- ure this out. I dare you. * * * The remainder of the description of the stage must be imagined by the reader. It is omitted for lack of space. * * * Foxeworp: Omitted for lack of paper xe OF Privace: Omitted because of the ink shortage. * * * Remarks by several rival authors d to get their names in print —see preface. x ok ox Candida Hubbard hangs grace- fully one toe, from the chandelier, while the Dog lightly philanders the latest liaison on the keys of the piano. There is no sound—it is a noiseless piano—as nothing must stop the flow of conversation. Canpipa: Topsy-turvy. Tie Doc: Upside down. Canpipa: What are we to do— we have no cupboard. (Turns three verbal We have no bones. Tue Doc: (Descends to a split infinitive.) Canpipa: Suppose we just talk about everything. luz Doc: Oh Pshaw!! (Te be continued next month.) * * * cInd at last we turn to the United States of Amendments. * oe * Yue ist Act: Pep. (uz 2np Act: More pep. ue 3rp Act: Lots of pep. Mother Hubbard dances out be- side the Dog, singing “Over There,” They carry an American flag be- tween them, Curtain . M.S. The Little Girl: Mother, I think it’s awful kind of that man to carry our bags. Psychology Item NCE upon a time there was a man who declared that women are superior to men. Meeting an- other man one day, he said: “There’s no use talking, the girls put it all over us.” The fellow he told this to nodded his head solemnly, but made no re- ply. The man was delighted to think he had really said something. A little later he met another man and re- marked: “We men think we are something, but the fact is that women know much more than we do. They are much cleverer.” The second man stared at him, but neither did he make any reply. And so the man went <2 for a few days more. Then he met a whole group of men who were standing to- gether talking about the affairs of the world. One of them said to him: “We've heard about you. and join us.” Another said almost immediately : “Tell us what you think.” Come “I think,” said the man, “that women are very much better, brain- ier, cleverer than we are. I tell you, they are superior to us.” This was as far as he got. The largest man in the group grabbed him, took him aside and whispered: “Lay off that stuff.” “But why?” he asked. “Tt ain’t safe. If you keep on say- ing it, you'll get so that after a while you'll believe it.” T.L.M. Impotence I took her away! Had you belonged together, No matter the person, or whether Desiring, or no— She could not go— Fate does not cheat! You say: You can never take From anyone—his own; Kismet! Soon, or late, It is thrown At his feet! comicbooks.com