Life, 1923-07-26 · page 27 of 42
Life — July 26, 1923 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from *Life* magazine: **Top: "Repartee" Comic Strip** A conversation between two dogs—one with floppy ears, one with pointed ears—debating ear and tail aesthetics. The black dog criticizes the other's long ears as "entirely too long" and suggests redistributing excess ear tissue to create a "respectable pair of ears," while offering to do the same with tails. This is gentle visual humor about breed differences and aesthetic preferences. **Bottom: "The Letters of a Modern Father"** A father sarcastically congratulates his daughter on marrying a poor farmer with no prospects. The satire targets wealthy upper-class attitudes: he's "overwhelmed by your good fortune" because her sisters married wealthy men, so he's relieved she's finally making a "good" match—even though it's financially disastrous. The punchline: he'd prefer the arrangement "better if there was a substantial mortgage on the farm" (making it worse). The piece mocks class consciousness and parental materialism in early 20th-century society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
confir: me my first glance, sthing to. . Speak se Al a EN Iwas wendering why they didafe use some of t excess a erat your ears and give our a decent, tail entirely too well, spill it ! whats the bis idea? = ___ and by the same token L wonder why they didnt take some of you~ tail and Sive you a vespectable pair OF ears REPARTEE The Letters of a Modern Father Y Dear DaucutTer: I have been thinking over what you wrote me about the young man. You say that he has nothing but his place on his father's farm; yet you wish to marry him. You understand, of course, that coming from a girl who has been reared in luxury and ease this takes me by sur- prise. You know there is nothing in your history to pre- pare your mother and me for such a decision. We are overwhelmed by your good fortune. I had ceased to hope that any of ‘my daughters would have such an opportunity. Three of your sisters, not remind you, are being supported by my frien¢ married their sons. You may imagine what a sati I need . having isfaction it will be, therefore, to have one daughter marry a man with no prospects. My hopes are being realized rather late in life, which makes them all the sweeter. Please present my best wishes to the young man and say to him that I would like the arrangement better if there was a substantial mortgage on the farm. Your Devotep FATHER. comicbooks.com