Life, 1925-03-26 · page 5 of 37
Life — March 26, 1925 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes 1920s cosmetic surgery trends among wealthy women. The main cartoon mocks the obsession with facial enhancement procedures, showing a woman who has undergone so much work that she's nearly unrecognizable—her face appears grotesquely altered. The caption "What's happened to Miss Hippo? She seems changed. Haven't you heard? She's had her face lifted" uses the then-novel procedure of face-lifting as a joke. The accompanying price list from "Dr. Henry T. Lancet" (a fictional name) itemizes cosmetic procedures with costs ($1,000 for face lifting, $325 for lip modification, etc.), satirizing how wealthy clients viewed appearance as purchasable commodities. The satire targets vanity culture and the new beauty industry's promise that money could buy perfection.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Gnn Fairy Tale [Re first prize had just been awarded to Miss Atlantic City. “The prettiest girl won,” said the Beauty Candidate from Plainfield, N. J., to the reporters. “Both in figure and facial beauty, s Atlantic City is far ahead of me points, and if I had had my way vout it I should never have dared to enter the competition. I don't wonder that every one is so enthusiastic about her, for it has seldom been my pleasure to meet a girl sweeter both to look at and to know. And one only needs to talk with her to realize what a scintillat- ing mind is coupled with her unusual beauty. “L know that many of you must have hed to sce so plain a person as my- self entered in a beauty contest, and T ssure you that had it not been for fear of hurting the feelings of the good citi- zens of Plainfield I should have been merely an onlooker. “You must excuse me now because | have an engagement with Miss Atlantic y to introduce her to my fiancé. would make a wonderful couple I wish them to become better ac- nainted.” Tracy Hammond Lewis. What Price Beauty? Dr. Henry T. Lancet Plastic Surgery Mrs. Tewksbury Van Dodd. To Professional Services: | FACE lifted . $1 1 permanent blush installed 1 pr. lips modi: 1 Roman nose remodeled. 2, chins removed . Crow’s-feet and assorte wrinkles eradicated $3,175 “T see,” said Mr. Van Dodd, looking over the bill, “the doctor forgot to add the wart tax.” OTTO for Mussolini: When in To Helen, 1925 Flapper Model (With Apologies to Homer, Poe and Other Old Adinirers) HELEN, thy beauty is to me Like tons of plated brummagem, Like jazz bands loose at one a. M.— Cheap rouge and raucous revelry. Helen, thy beauty is to me Like china shops with bulls at work, Like tropic dawns in fog and murk— A short and sharp cacophony. Helen, thy beauty is to me Like wire walkers treading high, Like powder kegs with matches nigh— Potentially catastrophe. Helen, thy beauty is to me (When I reflect on all it cost In terms of time and moncy lost) Just idiotic bankruptcy. Elias Lieberman, yy rt FACIAL &STHETICS “WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MISS HIPPO? SHE SEEMS CHANGED.” Rome do as the Romanoffs did. “HAVEN'T YOU HEARD? SHE'S HAD HER FACE LIFTED.” comicbooks.com