Life, 1922-11-30 · page 10 of 36
Life — November 30, 1922 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes romantic elopement and unconventional weddings. Mr. Hill argues that couples should elope rather than endure formal weddings with their families present. Miss Dale counters that elopement is "ridiculous" and prefers a proper church ceremony. The cartoon below illustrates the joke: a Sunday School teacher asks pupils where Noah lived, expecting a biblical answer. A student replies Noah and his family "belonged to the floating population"—a pun equating Noah's ark with vagrant communities of the era who lived on boats/barges. The satire mocks both romantic rebellion (eloping) and the absurd literalism of children's responses to religious instruction. The page appears from early-to-mid 20th century Life magazine's humor section.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE The Romantic Gesture “JT T’S an awfully tempting notion, dear,” said Mr. Hill with a fine, open smile. “But it wouldn’t do. I mean people don’t elope, do they? unless they have to. At least, not very generally, they don’t.” “I suppose they do if they want to.” returned his fiancée, raising contemptuous eyebrows over a pair of sparkling eyes. “Why on earth wouldn't they? And if it were very generally done, I shouldn’t think of doing it! But it would avoid a lot of fuss.” “TI should think it would make a lot of trouble.” “Who ever for?” “Why, for everyone. Just think of all the comments and explanations. ‘My daughter-to-be hated the idea of a formal wedding and so the young people just took the law into their own hands.’ I can hear my mother saying it!” “Mine couldn’t object, because she did it herself.” “She had some reason. Her father had a feud with your father’s family. Nobody’s got any objection to me,” declared Mr. Hill, modestly. Sunday School Teacher: Can anyone tell me where Noah lived? 2 ET “No,” agreed Miss Dale, with a sniff, “and that makes it rather tame, of course. Still, it would be fun and it would save a great deal of bother, and it would surprise people.” “TI don’t particularly want to surprise them.” “T'll tell you what you want,” exclaimed his young lady, wrathfully. “You want to go to church in a high hat and have a crowd to stare at you.” This most unjust accusation completely upset the calm philosophy of Mr. Hill’s reasonings. “Confound it all, Millicent! Why do you say things like that? You know I'd hate it.” “Well, then, why insist upon it?” “Who's insisting upon it?” cried the exasperated gentleman. “I only say eloping’s ridiculous. Can’t we be married quietly and properly?” “Oh, properly—properly—properly,” repeated Miss Dale, in the most irritating manner. “We can, no doubt, if I can’t find anyone more exciting to run off with before that day dawns in all its dull propriety.” “What the devil do you mean, Millicent? Don’t you love me?” “Not at the moment,” returned she, with every appear- ance of truth. Mr. Hill, yielding to a not unnatural impulse, took her by the shoulders and shook her heartily. So heartily, indeed, that if her hair had belonged to the period when a lady’s tresses were confined by hairpins, every one of them would have flown out. Being bobbed, however, only a severe tossing of hatless curls was apparent. Pupil: I don’t think he had a regular home. I guess he and his family belonged to the floating population. comicbooks.com Si