Life, 1923-12-13 · page 6 of 36
Life — December 13, 1923 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**James M. Beck Caricature (left):** The exaggerated facial features—bulging eyes, protruding ears, elaborate hair—mock James M. Beck, Solicitor-General of the United States. The accompanying verse jokes that he once wore a snowy wig to deck his temples in England, and now wears it still to fancy dances back home. This appears to be social ridicule of his appearance and fashion choices rather than political critique. **"Degrees of Dumbness" (bottom left):** A humorous hierarchy classifying types of foolishness from "Ph.D." (phenomenally dumb) through various social types—train callers, telephone operators, and fortune-teller patrons—down to "L.L.D." (lacking literal dumbness), including prohibition officers and professional beauties. It's satirical social commentary on contemporary American types and behaviors. **Right illustration:** A domestic scene between mother and daughter discussing hurt feelings, likely satirizing family melodrama of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - James M. Beck Solicitor-General of the United States a tale is told of James M. Beck That once, in England, he did deck His temples with a snowy wig, . In which his act went over—big. Then to his native shore he turned, But do not think the wig was burned. Ah, no! He overlooks no chances But wears it still—at fancy dances. G. S.C. Degrees of Dumbness H. D.—(Phenomenally Dumb.) Telephone operators—Admirers of banana songs— Train callers—Mulish husbands—Sentimental wives—Trol- ley-car conductors—Automobilists who drive in front of moving trains—Patrons of fortune-tellers. D. D—(Decidedly Dumb.) Movie stars—Bathers who wear diamonds into the water— Graduates of fashionable finishing schools—Admirers of Harold Bell Wright—Audible readers of movie captions— Swedish house-maids—Men who believe everything a woman says—Women who believe everything a man says. M, D—(Moderately Dumb.) Scenario writers — Plumbers — Vaudeville actors — Café waitresses—Hummers of tunes at musical plays—Beginners at bridge—Amateur John Barrymores—Cake eaters. LL. D—(Lacking Literal Dumbness.) Prohibition officers—Sheiks—Professional ballroom danc- ers—Lounge lizards—Jazz hounds—Absent-minded dinner partners—Professional beauties—Movie audiences. Harvey Peake. The New-Voes Are Giving a Little Theatre Party HE New-Voes are giving a ‘ittle theatre party. Are you going? They've invited a few friends. Just enough to fill the theatre. They are taking them all in their caravan of Rolls- Royces. And they will arrive during the end of the first act. Or during the middle of the second. There will be favors in all the seats. Simple little favors. Trifles in jade and platinum. Sprinklings of sapphires and diamonds. Afterward, they are taking their guests to that ne supper restaurant, “The Hot Stuff Club.” Of course, they’ve reserved every table there. And engaged two additional bands. It will be a quiet affair. The New-Voes are giving a little theatre party. Are you going? Daughter: PLEASE GO AWAY, MOTHER. I’M MAKING BELIE! I’M YOU, AND I CAN’T BEAR TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS. comicbooks.com