Life, 1924-12-18 · page 22 of 37
Life — December 18, 1924 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch mocks high-society social climbing and intellectual pretension. Two couples at a restaurant are breathlessly discussing meeting "Ivan Borkmanchef," a fashionable celebrity of the moment. The humor lies in their complete ignorance: when asked what he does, they offer contradictory answers—scientist, novelist, government official, poet—suggesting he's famous for being famous, not for any actual accomplishment. The women are especially portrayed as superficially eager to associate with him, calling him "the figure of the minute" and "a genius" while knowing nothing substantive about him. The sketch satirizes how the wealthy socially pursue celebrities indiscriminately, treating intellectual pursuits as mere amusing social accessories rather than serious endeavors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Lion Hunters Scene: A restaurant. Cuaracters Two gentlemen and two ladies. First Lapy Have you met him? First GENTLEMAN Who? First Lavy Why, Ivan Borkmanchef. First Gentleman No, but he's coming to the Van- derricks’, Tuesday. Srconp Lany We've got him for Wednesday. First Lavy I can hardly wait to meet him. Seconp Gentie He's the figure of the minute. Srconp Lapy s A genius! WannsamiCacy First GENTLEMAN It will be interesting to know him THE FAITHFUL HEART By the way, what is it he does? First Lapy Oh—cr—different things. Seconp Gentleman He's a scientist, isn't he? HAVING ASKED SANTA CLAUS FOR A BULL PUP FOR CHRISTMAS, LITTLE WILLIE PUTS HIS DOG-HOUSE IN ORDER, Seconp Lavy I thought he a novelist. First Gentleman Isn't he in the government? First Lapy I believe he's a poet. First GextLeMan I suppose he's a bit of everything. First Lapy Oh, of course. Seconn Gextteman Anyway, he’s the man of the moment Srconp Lavy Everybody's talking about him. First Lapy And we are going to mect him! cond Lapy I'm so excited. First Lapy So am IT. Srconp Lapy Yes, I love to listen to a poet—or a doctor—or a statesman, They're all so amusing. C.G.S. SUSPENSE Heard in 1934 First Bug: Wat's ALL THE EXCITEMENT? RS. PERSONAL LIBERTY Second Bug: EXCITEMENT! WHY—HERE THE BEETLEBURGH CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE Johnny, don't you play with that HAVE HIRED OLD MR, SNAIL TO PLAY SANTA CLAUS AND NOW THEY'RE AFRAID HE little Smith boy. His father is a hor- WON'T ARRIVE TILL THE FOURTH OF JULY. rid old law-abider. comicbooks.com