Life, 1923-03-22 · page 9 of 36
Life — March 22, 1923 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical sketch titled "So French," set in the Ritz Hotel lobby in Paris. The comedy relies on American characters enthusiastically imitating French sophistication and mannerisms—mentioning lunch with the Throckburys, tea at Helen Updike's house, and attending the theater to see the Williamses and Tinkers. The joke targets American social climbers' pretentious attempts to adopt French culture and lifestyle as markers of status. The accompanying illustration shows a silhouetted figure in a hat, likely depicting a typical "Parisian" character type. The page also includes a poem titled "Blockade" by S.K., a romantic piece unrelated to the main sketch. Overall, the content satirizes American aspirational Francophilia during what appears to be the early-to-mid twentieth century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
So French CENE: The lobby of the Ritz Hotel, Paris. Time: 5:30 P. Mm. Characters: Two gentlemen and two ladies. First Lapy Don’t you adore Paris? Seconp Lapy | think it’s heavenly. Everything’s so French about it. First GENTLEMAN Isn't it. Let's have a cocktail. Seconp GENTLEMAN Just the thing. Waiter! Bronxes. Four First Lapy I spent a divine afternoon. Seconp Lapy Oh, tell us what you did. First Lapy Well, first of all, I lunched with the Throckburys. Seconp Lapy I think Betty Throckbury is sweet. First Lapy Then I dropped in at the Billings- bys’. You know Harry Billingsby. Seconp GENTLEMAN Know him well. Stopped with Harry last winter at Palm Beach. First Lapy And after that I had tea at Helen Updike’s. She’s just taken a house. First GENTLEMAN Next door to the Willie Joneses? Seconp Lavy That's right. The Mayson-Smiths live just across the way. First Lapy They’re all typically French houses. Of course, they’ve been al- tered a good bit. Seconp GENTLEMAN Of course. Have you seen the Roderick Hendersons ? First GENTLEMAN No, but Tessie Sparkleigh told me that they’d gone to Cannes. First Lapy Tessie’s dining with the Robin- sons to-night. They've got a coon jazz band. Seconp GENTLEMAN I love jazz. Seconp Lapy So do I. It’s really become quite French. hee instalidlndtag Pe ely rea S Voice from Above: Is that you, George? “T’'m afraid so.” First GENTLEMAN Oh, the French are a wonderful people. Awfully good Bronx, this. First Lapy They do everything so well. Seconp GENTLEMAN What have you seen at the theatre? Seconp Lapy Last night we saw the Williamses, the Tinkers, and old Mrs. Curlies. First Lapy Oh, there’s no place like Paris. First GENTLEMAN There really isn’t, is there? Seconp Lapy No. Everything’s so French about it. C.G.S. Blockade F I might offer, lady, to your lips The cup of love, I’d fill it with a wine Would warm you to fingertips, A vintage potent as it is divine. your very Mine is a draught sure to intoxi- cate— But how, dear lady, part When through long days I am com- pelled to wait Outside the Three Mile Limit of your heart? can I play my S. K. comicbooks.com