Life, 1923-12-27 · page 23 of 37
Life — December 27, 1923 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes two distinct American social issues circa 1913-1923: **Top section ("Time Out"):** Mocks wealthy New Yorkers' chronic theater tardiness. The dialogue shows upper-class excuses—powdering noses, lingering cocktails, elaborate dinners, indecision about clothing—revealing self-absorbed procrastination. The cartoon depicts well-dressed theater-goers perpetually delayed by frivolous concerns, satirizing their obliviousness to time and others waiting. **Bottom cartoons:** Comment on working-class economic hardship. The first shows street children confusing free book samples with stealing, reflecting urban poverty. The second depicts a woman's resignation about her husband leaving coal mining for flour mill work—both brutal, low-wage jobs. The humor is darkly ironic: she'd planned a Christmas gift (bathtub), but now faces continued economic struggle regardless of employment. Together, the page contrasts wealthy leisure-class self-indulgence against working-poor desperation, typical of early 20th-century American social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Time Out IVhy New York Audiences Are Late to the Play “TT'S only six o'clock. Let's play an- other rubber.” Just a minute, dear. I must powder nose.” I know a place two blocks away ere they sell it by the bottle. The breast of guinea hen is very fine s evening. It will take just a few minut No, it's a one-way street.” ‘Just one more with lemon juice. you heard the one about the ar and the hot dog I'm really not very hungry. I think ome of that—ah—er—no, I that’s what I want. Bring some—er—er—ah. No, I don't think want that, either.” ‘It’s not quarter to nine yet, and the catre’s only ten blocks off.” ‘Oh, dear! I've forgotten the kets.” C.G.S. Now my luck is twice as “WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY STEALING BOOKS The clay is on my idol’s face! “STEALIN’! GEE, WE TOUGHT DESE WAS SAMPLES.” “I WAS GOIN’ TO GET MY HUSBAN’ A BATHTUB FOR CHRIS’MAS, BUT NOW HE’S QUIT THE COAL MINE AN’ GOT A JOB IN A FLOUR MILL.” comicbooks.com