Life, 1923-05-03 · page 10 of 40
Life — May 3, 1923 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This two-act comic drama contrasts Egyptian and American domestic life across millennia. In **Act 1** (set in ancient Egypt), a husband complains about repair delays—the water wheel broke and the feed pipe clogged. His wife sarcastically suggests buying a new boiler. **Act 2** (modern American suburb) mirrors this: the wife now complains about similar household mechanical failures, and the husband suggests purchasing new equipment. The satire's point: despite thousands of years of civilization and technological progress, married couples still have identical domestic arguments about household maintenance and expenses. The "times change" but human nature—and marital friction—remain constant. This reflects Life's characteristic social humor about middle-class domesticity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“I suppose so. “What's the matter, Emily—mal de mer? The effect of these awful French boats.’ Times Change A Two-Act Drama Showing that the Moon Must Be Pretty Tired of Hearing the Same Old Stuff. Acr 1. CENE: The home of an Egyp- tian family of whatever was the middle class. Time: A night some thousands of years ago. A husband; a wife. The moon rose long since and is fast waning. You swore that you would return before sundown. What detained you? Tue Huspanp: My chariot wheel came off and I was long in repairing it. I fear I must buy a new one. Tue Wire: Probably the other ladies would appreciate a new char- iot. The gods know I never would be asked to ride in it. Act 2, Scene: The home of a middle-class family in an American siburb. Time: A night some thousands of years later. Characters: A husband; a wife. Tue Wire: Well, what kept you this time? Here it is half-past two and you promised faithfully you would be home by nine o'clock. Tne Huspanp: I had two blow- outs and the feed pipe clogged on me again. Guess I'll have to buy a new boiler soon. Tue Wire: A new car will make no difference to me. Heaven knows I saw little enough of the old one. James K. McGuinness. “Oh Mama, look at the dear goldfish practicing to be sardines!” comicbooks.com