Life, 1924-12-25 · page 15 of 37
Life — December 25, 1924 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a society gathering where a distinguished archaeologist shows an upper-class couple artifacts and asks whether excavated ancient cities and objects "can they be used again?" This satirizes the wealthy class's materialism and superficiality—suggesting they view even historical artifacts primarily through the lens of practical utility or fashionable reuse rather than genuine scholarly or cultural interest. The page also contains three short humorous pieces: "The Late Arrival" (about a tardy Christmas guest), "Christmas Card" (seasonal greetings), and "An Ounce of Precaution" (dialogue between characters discussing identification). These appear to be typical satirical vignettes mocking middle and upper-class social conventions of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lady (to distinguished archeologist): SO LABORIOUSLY—AH—EXHUMF,—CAN THEY wc you The Late Arrival HE lighted windows of the house gleamed joyously in the night, iadowing the holly wreaths upon the re, white snow without. From the orway a welcoming shaft illumined nearer reaches of the drive, like a iding beacon. Eager faces pressed against the win- v panes. Bright eyes pecred over the ginal expanse until their vision died the depths of evening. From afar me faintly the hallowed carols of wristmastide, bidding men be of good 1 ‘Oh! I do hope he comes,” said lother, anxiouslyz “Our whole Christ- 1s will be spoiled if he doesn't.” “Do you suppose he could be lost?” ked Aunt Priscilla, who is never so appy as when she isn’t. “Indeed not,” Father scoffed. “He nows his way here with his eyes shut.” But there was an anxious air about the little holiday gathering despite this cheery assurance. Then two headlights winked down the road. A car turned into the drive- way and came suddenly to a halt. Oh! What shouts there were; what welcoming cries; what rejoicing. And Father rushed out into the cold night to grect the late arrival, without even stopping to put on his hat. Every one crowded to the door. “Here you are at last,” Father boomed genially. “I thought you were never going to come.” “Oh! I got here all right,” was the response, Then the voice continued, “That was a case you wanted, wasn’t it? It'll be sixty-five dollars, please.” James K. McGuinness. An Ounce of Precaution EILLY: Step up here, O'Brien, and let me have a good look at ye. O'Brien: What's the idea? Remy: I've got some insultin’ things to say to ye, an’ I want to be able later on to identify ye positively as the man who shtruck me. a AND THESE CITIES—AND THINGS—AND THINGS— BE USED AGAIN? Christmas Card HERES just a little note to say That to-day is Christmas Day; Things we gave to you before, We still want to use some more. Help our Christmas to be happy; Bring our stuff back; make it snappy. WLW. Signs of Winter T2 appearance on magazine covers of girls who hold muffs against their noses. The announcement by various major league clubs of the purchase of twelve Babe Ruths, fourteen Walter Johnsons and twenty-seven Frankie Frisches. The passing of nine hundred and fourteen thousand resolutions that “next year we are going to have a closed car.” The Six-Day Bike Race. Lower-cut dresses on the streets. The interruption of half a million commuters in their perusal of seed catalogues by the going out of the fur- nace. B. B. comicbooks.com