Life, 1925-04-09 · page 34 of 41
Life — April 9, 1925 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This article mocks the veneration of practical mediocrity, particularly the era's celebration of President Calvin Coolidge. The author sarcastically argues that historical figures—Washington, Franklin, Patrick Henry, John Brown, and Lincoln—lacked "common sense" because they took principled stands (rebellion, experimentation, abolition) that disrupted business and comfort. The satire's target is clear: the 1920s cultural obsession with passive pragmatism over moral courage. By claiming Coolidge's "common sense" will outlast these revolutionaries in history, the writer exposes how hollow and forgettable such complacency actually is. The joke inverts itself—these "senseless" rebels are remembered precisely because they acted boldly, while Coolidge represents forgettable conformity. The piece critiques American society's post-WWI retreat into conservatism and business-friendly politics, mocking those who value stability over justice or principle.
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Le Narcisse No: (Black Narcis: CARON CORP, 389 FIFT NEW YORK What Price Common Sense? My motto is common sense. The man without it never gets anywhere. There was George Washington, a bright and rich young fellow, who spoiled his chances of being a good Colonial governor by mixing up with a lot of rebels. If he hadn't done that, he might even have gone into Parliament eventually. There was also Ben Franklin, fool- ing around in a thunderstorm, with a kite, just like a kid. A man of com- mon sense would have known enough to come in out of the But people never expected much of Ben after he ran away from home, And there was Patrick Henry; he couldn't keep his mouth shut at the proper time, Later came John Brown, the first of the Reds. You know what he did, and how his body now lies a-moldering in the grave. Finally there was Abe Lincoln, tak- ing the legal property of white Nordic citizens from them in the name of freedom, and upsetting business for years and years as the result of such con- s. We're paying for that war yet. None of these men seems to have had much common sense. That's why nobody ever hears of them to-day That's why their names won't ge down in history with the name of Calvin Coolidge. I'll say they won't. WLW, Protective Coloring “I surrose. the girls use powder, pa ad other things on their faces so the boys won't kiss them,” said John Emory Andrus of Yonkers (he is said te be worth $100,000,000 and fer that reason is interviewed on his birthday every year). We had noticed that the boys don’t kiss the girls any more, but until Mr. Andrus’s cighty-fourth birth- day statement we hadn't known why. Krrty: I saw Edna down town today. Betty: Yes? What did she have off? Mrs. Pep’s Diary (Continued from page 14) he would have broken down completely had I not suddenly foregone my rdle and made him quaff a large beaker of whiskey....The Crowells to dinner, whereat Nina quoth, upon mention of a cleansing establishment, Oh, I don’t bother to have my gowns dry-cleaned any more—I just have them distilled. . Greatly distressed over April burning my tongue on my 3rd breakfast coffee. Relief measures may be taken for the ma ity of the ills to which flesh is h but a burned tongue is an agony which must run its course....This day did I ride on the subway for the first time in many years, and the congestion was so brutal and alarming that I did not expect to emerge alive from the shuttle train into which I had been herd I have been indifferent to the t controversy in the headlines, knowing nought of the condi , but now a crusading spirit consumes me, and, albeit I am no great shakes on horseback, I should be willing to lead a protesting mob against the City Hall or the I. R T. offices or whatever citadel stands for such an outrage. Lord! what spineless creatures New Yorkers must be to en- dure such transit torture without upris- ing. Surely the French Revolution had no more justifiable foundation than our subway jams. When the Bastille did its famous fall, there were only seven men in it....This day I did resolve to have no more asparagus served at our own table. The fly in the ointment about anything luscious in season is that youcannot escapeit. Baird Leonard. Going to Travel? Then by all means refer to the travel section of Harper's Magazine—Every month you will find many alluring sugges tions and vivid pe of America and fa n ndir y places inchs number of To hsp Lines, Resor Sailing Dates in Every Issue 8 of special tours an to write us—Our Travel ghily furnish any informatwn “HARPER'S MAGAZINE 49 East 33rd Street, New York, N. Y. comicbooks.com