Life, 1923-04-05 · page 13 of 40
Life — April 5, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Illustration**: Arthur I. Keller's cartoon shows children at play, with a girl (Diana) declaring she won't marry when grown—she'll be a widow instead. This appears to satirize precocious or unusual childhood declarations. **"The Modest Oyster"**: A poem by George S. Chappell mocking an oyster's self-deprecation and complaints about being eaten. **"The Lame Duck Line"**: The lower cartoon depicts what appears to be political figures (names visible but unclear) at an "Office of President Harding" with "Ambassador to Peru" signage. This likely satirizes the Harding administration's appointments or political maneuvering, using "lame duck" to reference ineffectual political figures or a departing official's diminished power. The page combines social satire with political commentary typical of Life's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
(A Mo A Sup W Att M Tha Ir The C And A And Cc A Tor W Doo To And Bivalvular Lament Written in a Diana: I'm not going to be married when I grow up; I’m going to be a widow. That dream told every day, Of how, as guest, You find to your dismay You are not dressed While dining at the Ritz Or at some tea! You laugh this off, but it’s No dream to me. The Modest Oyster ent of Malevolent Dejection.) MODEST oyster, I, Bluepoint by name, rlatively shy, erefore my shame is, the blot by which shield is marked, I'm, without a stitch, public parked. OFFICE PRESIDENT zoldfish in his globe 1 turn his back heat the public probe, power I lack, lobsters, served as~ food, trive a flush, though much more nude, Vt even blush. lancers on the stage, ough they try ike undress the rage, ar more than I, ed, in my fashion dumb, curse my star long for months to come thout an R. ELINGMUYSEN The Lame Duck Line Prodded by every fork Until I’m mad, I vow my fate to balk By going bad! Then welcome, sweet ptomaine And fatal tine! At least the final pain Will not be mine. George S. Chappell. CALDER comicbooks.com