Life, 1924-05-15 · page 40 of 46
Life — May 15, 1924 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This dialogue satirizes wealthy, upper-class Americans' shallow understanding of presidential politics during the convention season (the page appears to be from the 1920s era, likely). The characters—a man with a gardenia, a powdered socialite in chiffon, and a florid-faced gentleman by the fireplace—casually dismiss the presidential convention as mere "form" and spectacle rather than a serious democratic process. They debate whether conventions actually affect elections, with one character suggesting they exist only to "advertise" and "stimulate" public interest. The joke's punchline comes from the hostess—a woman in a beaded gown—who admits she's never cared about politics at all and finds the whole subject "silly," preferring to discuss cocktails and dinner instead. The satire mocks how the privileged classes, while enjoying the fruits of democracy, treat its fundamental processes as trivial social conversation—mere entertainment between drinks. The characters' vapid sophistication masks complete political indifference.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
There comes a time when every detail of costume and equipment must meet the eye of the most critical, Oshkosh Luggage admits an easy indiffer- ence to criticism — because unquestionably correct. OSHKOSH wardrobe trunks Cross-World Puzzle AMERICANS can't understand how the Chin ment t Speaking of Politics It’s all perfectly simple,” announced get along without any govern- slim young man with the gardenia in his buttonhole, helping himself toa caviar paté, get along without any government to log.” speak of, and the Chinese can’t understand how the American people speak of Just what I've always said,” nodded the pale, powdered lady in mauve chif fon. “It's as simple as log-rolling. The only thing I don’t quite understand is why they hold a Convention in the first cc WHITE MOUNTAIN [ieee REFRIGERATORS |ieeeaain | the fireplace, puffing a thick cigarette, ‘There wate for every taste and a sie for every bome it isn’t in the first place. It’s in the your ebotee last place. This year it happens to be MAINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY New York NASHUA, N. Ht Of course.” said the slim young n, reflectively all merely a mat- ter of form.” * smiled the pale lady, through her powder, “and form is so important, nowadays, isn’t it?” Tne critic's god: Pan in, who ood in fre “T se THE OSHKOSH TRUNK COMPAN “OSHKOSH - 1: WISCONSIN | “All that a Convention ever does,” continued the one by the fireplace, blow ing a perfect ring of smoke that wreathed itself around the cocktail shaker on the center table, “is to ad vertise, to arouse, to. stimulate. The theory that it has anything to do with the act election of a President is all rubbish. “Quite.” said the slim young man I know that,” the pale lady softly | murmured, “but doesn’t a President have to be nominated as well as elected?” florid-faced gentleman. “It's the nomination that's the main point.” Ii they would “Precisely.” cried the ly realize that dur ing the Conventior ” sighed the slim one, “how much better it would be “Of course it would ers, “ever so much better. Up to this point the hostess. a little woman in a beaded gown, had n spoken a word. ‘ced the oth “I'm sure it would be better,” she giggled, “but, somehow or other, I never really cared much about politics It always seemed such a silly thing to me. Do have another cocktail and then we'll go in to dinner.” COGS. ‘Mum’ is the word! “Mum”’ prevents | all body odors What a comfort!—to preserve all day that fresh, “after-the-bath”” feeling of daintiness! “Mum”, the snow-white cream —not only prevents perspiration | odor, but a// body odors. “Mum” is so effective and so safe that dainty women use it with the sani- | tary pad. 25c and soc atall stores. | SPECIAL OFFER In order to introduce to you two other toilet essen- | tials we make this Special Offer: 2s¢ ‘Mum ase “Amoray”’ tale—the Powder Perfume whose fragrance lasts all day; and 75¢ Evans's Depilatory Outfit —the quick, safe way of removing hair. $7.25 worth for $1 postpaid, Or we will send you the items separately. Please give dealer's name and sine um Mfe. Co. 1108 a Chesent Street Philadelphia comicbooks.com