Life, 1925-06-04 · page 10 of 44
Life — June 4, 1925 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Valedictory"** (left) by John C. Emery satirizes social climbing and pretension. It mocks "Alma Mater" — a person who four years ago was an awkward bond salesman but has now become a cultured connoisseur and "man of the world," despite lacking genuine cultural knowledge. The satire's point: superficial self-improvement and social aspiration can produce only shallow mimicry of sophistication. **"Black Sheep" cartoon** (bottom right) depicts a woman labeled "MOTHER" holding money while children play. The caption reads: "I didn't raise my boy to be a diploma" — satirizing parental concerns about education's cost-benefit. It suggests parents question whether expensive education justifies its price when practical success requires less formal credentials. Both pieces target early 20th-century American social anxieties about class mobility and education.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT CIGARETTES WERE SLOW POISON.” “WELL—I'M IN NO HURRY,” Valedictory higher arts, lacking in cultural knowl- LMA Mater, hail! Four n awkward yokel to-day, a Wall Street (or maybe an assistant in Dad's factory). unlearned in the cultural rs ago, edge—to-day, still higher arts, still lacking in knowledge. Oh, well! Alma Mater, vale! John C. Emery. salesman in . a hick, tongue-tied, unskilled in graces—to-day, a man of the world, schooled in petting. a wise-cracker. a novice at drinking, finer products of the glib of speech, Four year ignorant of the bootlegger—to-day, a man_ of handy at them connoisseur, a parts, and mixing Four years ago, a barbarian, think- ing all Greeks restaurant owners—to- day, a Brother, apt at the “grip,” swift with the password. Four years ago, husky but clumsy —to-day, an All-American (net va in the bond business, $376,000). Four years ago, slow-footed in the dance, a treader on feminine ankles— to-day, a dance-floor ball of fire, a mean stepper... Four years ago, unlearned in the Lines in a Stenog’s Notebook ENTLEM We have yours of the twenty-fourth instant— noticed before what a be you have in your hair.” And in reply would say— you're a tremendous asset to my T ho, —=Will you please hurry the shipme loads of fellor y with red blood not to fall vou fiz ictorially you never leave. “L gue choos you h from. ns would b If I had sce in his for you years ago——" —And if it is not received by Wednes- day—“Don't take dictation so fast, just ruins my day.” —We will have to cancel the order— “Gee, you look cute to-da: the knack of being able te anything and to look perfe in it.” You have car alm ly stunning —Trusting to hear from yc ‘osh, if I had some one lik ing for me at home, not all the king's es nor all the king's men could > me attend a board of directors’ meeting in the evening,” Della D. Landau. A Sure Way S your budget help you to save the time we get it balanced each evening it’s too late to go anywhere.” Black Sheep: 1 pivN’T RAISE MY BOY TO BE A DIPLOMA comicbooks.com