Life, 1923-08-02 · page 25 of 40
Life — August 2, 1923 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks the conventions of romantic literature and the speechlessness of modern youth. The story presents a stereotypical romantic scenario—a couple in Venice, moonlight, orchestral music—yet all dialogue is rendered as dashes, implying the characters have nothing to say to each other. The joke targets early 20th-century trends: young people's supposed inability or unwillingness to communicate meaningfully, despite being surrounded by romantic clichés. By replacing actual dialogue with blank lines, the author suggests modern romance is hollow performance rather than genuine connection. The separate cartoon titled "Under Two Flags" (showing a nautical figure) appears unrelated. Additionally, the page includes "Oi Temperruh! Oi Mawruss!"—a nostalgic lament about declining manners and morals among the younger generation, mocking older generations' complaints about modernity. This reinforces the page's theme of contemporary social criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Venetian Romance ‘A Love Story Without Conversation. aN a corner table, overlooking the terrace, they sat sipping their coffee. There was the flush of glori- ous youth upon her cheeks, and his decp, brown eyes sparkled with fer- yor. “__. — —— —,” he said to. her, as he offered her a cigarette. “_ —~-—,” she replied. The strains of a stringed orchestra filtered from below, and a pale sul- phur moon hung on the tops of the trees. There was a subtle magic in the soft breeze that floated off the Adriatic. Raising his cup to his lips, itned to her. : aml —,” he whisper- ighing his words with effect. —_ ?” she inquired. But he merely gazed into the starlit distance. \ few minutes later, he summoned a menial, paid for the refreshments and, throwing a silk wrap about her snow-pink shoulders, escorted her into the ball-room. IL the dance was the gayest and most The brilliant of the season, for, from far and wide, the world of fame and fashion had assembled—a scene of breathed, and her little gloved hand lin; somewhere some one warbled a ndor and dazzle. pressed nst his muscular arm. languorous ballad. Her fair head In a balcony box the couple gazed —_ >” he told her. rested upon his square shoulder. down upon the sea of merry-makers Ill “ ,” he ob- as the last note of the final waltz They were drifting down the Grand _ served, pointing to a fleeting cloud noed throughout the hall. Canal out towards the Lido. Some- — overhead. where some one strummed a mando- “ Horse: vt'S ALL BUNK ABOUT TRACTORS AND TRUCKS TAKING THE PLACE OF THE HORSE ON THE FARM. I WISH THEY WOULD. ” she sighed. Soon, only the lapping of the wave- lets against the gliding gondola was ble; and ke knelt at her feet. — 2” he asked her. And she answered “—. Charles G. Shaw. Oi Temperruh! Oi Mawruss! Oh, the Manners! Oh, the Times! Oh, the nameless, shameless crimes! Oh, the Dances—oh, the Dress— Oh, the wanton Wickedn Oh, the Morals of the Nation— Oh, the Younger Generation! It would make a body blue: ever are we coming to? racious sakes aliy Life ain't what it used to be Back in dear old ’Twenty-Thr Cyril B. E “LJOW did the new minister pro- nounce the benediction?” UNDER TWO FLAGS “As_ spelled,” comicbooks.com