Life, 1923-05-17 · page 8 of 46
Life — May 17, 1923 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satirical content: 1. **"Any Stairway" (cartoon)**: A humorous illustration showing a man falling down stairs with his belongings scattered. The caption "When you slip on the top step" is a visual joke about the consequences of accidents on staircases—literally depicting what happens when one loses footing. 2. **"Your Summer Trip"**: A satirical advice column mocking travelers' expectations. It humorously describes the reality of summer vacations—crowded resorts, uncomfortable clothing, expensive wardrobes, and tedious social obligations—contrasting sharply with the idealized fantasy travelers imagine. The tone is cynical about the actual experience versus the marketed promise. **"The Other Half"**: A dramatic scene-setting piece featuring dialogue between society figures at "Mike Gallagon's" discussing the venue's "atmosphere" and waiters, with hints of criminal underworld references ("murderers here").
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MA init H Any Stairway When you slip on the top step. Your Summer Tri (According to the Advice of Your Traveled Neighbors.) OU will go te some quiet resort near home so as to waste little time getting there and back, and you will go as far as possible in order to get a complete change of air and associations. You will spend most of your time in a seaside cot- tage on the top of a mountain, re- mote from civilization in a metropol- itan city. You will have a varied and expensive wardrobe and will wear old clothes and an army shirt and let your beard grow. You will go alone and take your family with you and spend your entire rest peri- od in solitude among your wife’s relations. Your route in two weeks will include Glacier Park, Lookout Mountain, the Delaware Water Gap, the Wisconsin Dells, the Michigan Dunes, the New Jersey beaches, and the Maine woods. The time you have left you will spend accepting pressing week-end invitations. The Other Half CENE: The back room of Mike Gallagan’s. Time: 2:15 A. M. Characters: Two gentlemen and two ladies. First Lapy I wonder if the one in the sweater is a gunman. First GENTLEMAN They’re all gunmen. Seconp Lapy How exciting! I adore any place that has atmosphere. First GENTLEMAN And the food’s really delicious. ‘First Lavy Adorable. Seconp Lapy Aren’t the waiters picturesque ? Seconp GENTLEMAN Fascinating types. First Lapy Do you suppose those men in the corner are murderers? First GENTLEMAN They’re all murderers here. Seconp Lapy How thrilling! First Lapy I love it. Seconp Lavy Slumming’s so much fun. Seems such a pity to leave. First GENTLEMAN Of course it is. I hate to go. (All exeunt to street, where secure a taxi and drive off.) ALL (fo themselves) Never so glad to leave anywhere tn all my life. Charles G. Shaw. News Notes SADORA DUNCAN will be the guest of honor at the next meet- ing of the American Legion. Clare Sheridan and Rudyard kip- ling are collaborating on a novel. Moe Isaacson is spending the week-end with Henry Ford. Nikita Balieff and Jack Dempsey are contemplating an excursion into the mission field. Walter Damrosch acclaims Paul Whiteman America’s greatest or- chestra conductor, Marie Dressler and Charles Chap- lin are being mentioned as presiden- tial possibilities. H.-P. Tue newest ailment is “bridge- wrist.” Due to constantly inhibited desires to strangle one’s partner. comicbooks.com