Life, 1923-08-23 · page 9 of 36
Life — August 23, 1923 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine features satirical "Letters That Ought to Be Written"—humorous fictional correspondence addressing social absurdities. The main cartoon depicts children playing with dolls, with the caption: "Can dolls marry?" and a child's response: "I don't know, but Father says there ought to be a law against men marrying dolls." The joke satirizes men who marry women perceived as superficial or doll-like—critiquing both the women and the men who choose them. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about gender roles and marriage standards. The "law against" phrasing adds comedic exaggeration. Below appears a poem about "John Anderson, Mah Jong," likely mocking the period's faddish games (Mah Jong was newly popular in America). The cartoon and content are typical of *Life's* light social satire targeting contemporary manners and trends.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Letters that Ought to Be Written To a Coal Dealer. EAR SIR: Your bill of $28 for two (2) coal” is at hand. ull payment thereof, please ac- cept the enclosed check for $14. True, it is only half the desired amount, but the coal. You can have the ng 2,000 Ibs. of slate, slag ck salt by calling at my resi- dence any morning. Yours in name only,— o an Autograph Huntress. Drax Mapa (or Miss) : 1 am happy to accede to your re- quest and send you, at the bottom is letter, my autograph. At my ur rate of 25c a word, the first last names will come to 50c. I am throwing in the middle initials and the paper and envelope, though I am afraid I must charge for postage, making a total of 52c net. (Certified, A checks only, accepted.) Yours, if at all— To a Gentle Reader. My Dove: I e the honor to inform you of your election to Honorary Member- ship in the Authors’ Union, and to present you with a vote of thanks for your never-failing amiability. Gratefully A.C. M, Asoy, Jr. “CAN DOLLS MARRY?” UR duty to Europe—to call off “t DON’T KNOW, BUT FATHER SAYS THERE OUGHT TO BE A the Senators. LAW AGAINST MEN MARRYIN’ DOLLS.” John Anderson, Mah Jong JOHN ANDERSON, Mah_ Jong, J John, When we were first acquent, With Authors, Chess and Dominoes Our Ieisure hours we spent. I won the Pigs-in-Clover crown, Your Euchre game was strong ; Alas, our pride has fallen down, John Anderson, Mah Jong! Parchesi, Checkers, Crokinole— Dear, lucid games of yore! You flipped a wicked Tiddly-Wink, I fathomed Cribbage lore; We've mastered Bridge without strain, Five Hundred and Ping Pong— ed But this is something else again, Sheik: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I SENT YOU FOR THAT ANIMAL AN Hour AGo. John Anderson, Mah Jong! “{ HAD TO WALK A MILE TO GET HIM.” C.R.S. comicbooks.com