Life, 1925-08-06 · page 5 of 36
Life — August 6, 1925 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes late-1890s summer cottage culture and rising costs of living. The poem "Ballade of Summer Cottages" by Kenneth Allon Robinson mocks fashionable resort destinations with absurd names ("Kamp Killkare," "Saltair," "Cozynook"). The verse complains about expensive, uncomfortable accommodations and ridiculous place-names, establishing the refrain "My only hate is 'Bide-a-wee'!" The accompanying illustration depicts well-dressed 1890s women at a seaside resort, illustrating the social scene the poem critiques. The caption about "housewives of the late nineties" discusses wartime economics—rising food prices and shortages (eggs, milk, soup greens). The satire targets both pretentious summer leisure culture and practical household management challenges of the era, suggesting affluent women's concerns about maintaining their lifestyle amid economic pressures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
I eC Ballade of Summer Cottages DON'T object to “Kamp Killkare,” “Kum-In” I'll greet with kindly eye; As for the place y-clept “Saltair,” I'll pass it amicably by. The bathing suits hung out to dry May flap in peace for all of me. Let “Cozynook” with “Seamew” vie; My only hate is “Bide-a-wee"! E’en if I had a match to spare For “Jollyholm,” I would not ply My arson on the lakefront where “Itsuitsus” stands, with “Phunbox” nigh; The man who named them ought to die— So with “Tizours” and “Lilylea”— But I can't stop to tell him why; My only hate is “Bide-a-wee” ! Though “Shadyseat” is quaintly bare, And “Highcliffe” anything but high, “Ferncroft’ devoid of maidenhair, “Weownit” mortgaged to the sky, To shout: “That name's a cock-eyed lie!” Were less than tactful, you'll agree; Besides, I've other fish to fry; My only hate is “Bide-a-wee”! L'Envor Prince, ii I had a bomb to shy, ‘Tis not for “Kumfort-on-the-Sea” Or “Dew-Drop-Inn” that I would try; My only hate is “Bide-a-wee" ! Kenneth Allan Robinson, ED: Where did you tour on your vacation? Ten: Gosh! I don’t know! I was driving the car! THE GAY NINETIES HOUSEWIVES OF THE LATE NINETIES HOLDING A COUNCIL OF WAR ON TIE H.C, OF L, THE GIST OP WHICH IS—MY, MY, WHAT ARE THINGS COMING TO, ANYWAY? NOT ONLY HAVE EGGS GONE UP TO A PENNY EACH AND MILK TO SIX CENTS A QUART, BUT now THE MARKETS HAVE STOPPED GIVING AWAY SOUP GREENS WIIFN YOU BUY A SOUP BONE. GOOD GRACIOUS, AT THIS RATE, PORTERHOUSE STEAK 1S LIABLE TO REACH NINETEEN CENTS A POUND, AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TO DO WITHOUT IT. comicbooks.com