Life, 1925-09-10 · page 31 of 41
Life — September 10, 1925 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This dark comic sketch satirizes American domestic violence and social frustration during the early 20th century. A nameless man, irritated by trivial annoyances—a wife's forgetfulness, a conductor's rudeness, a traffic cop's authority, even banal small talk—responds to each with murder, escalating absurdly until he kills himself. The satire mocks the contemporary American tendency toward rage and violence over minor inconveniences, portraying an exaggerated "everyman" whose casual brutality represents societal anxieties of the era. Each scene builds darkly: domestic complaint, workplace friction, social interaction—all trigger lethal overreaction. The final scene, where the man congratulates himself ("It's a great life") before suicide, underscores the bitter irony: his violent spree ends in self-destruction. This reflects post-WWI American cynicism about modern life's pressures and the masculinity expected to endure them silently—until breaking catastrophically.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The American Scene (Is This the Great American Play? Or Isn't It?) Scene 1 Wire: It’s time to get up, dear. Man: All right. (Goes back to sleep.) Scene 2 Man (dressing): Where are my : L forgot to mend them, Sorry. (Man kills Wife.) Scene 3 Conxpuctor: Good morning. Man: It is not. (Kills Conductor.) Scene 4 Man: I want to see Mr. Goosh. Tevernone Orerator: He's in con- ference. (Kills Telephone Operator.) Scexe 5 Speaker At Rotary Luxcueon: So the first man said to the second man, “Who was that lady I seen you with ast night?” And the second man re- plied, “That wasn't no lady, that was my wife!” Ha! Ha! Manx: RRerrr! (Kills Speaker at Rotary Luncheon.) Scene 6 Trarric Cor: Pull over to the curb ere! Think you're going to a fire? Man: No, you are. (Kills Traffic Cop.) Scene 7 Necnpor: Well, is this hot enough for you Manx: What if it is? (Kills Neighbor.) Scene 8 Former Neicunor (from Kalama- coo): It’s a small world, after all. Ma Yes, too small. (Kills Former Neighbor from Kalamazoo.) Scene 9 Man (to himself): It’s a great life. (Kills himself.) IC, E. A Guide to the Diner-Out Tue Winningates—East 61st Street. Ask you for cight o'clock, but never sit down till quarter to nine. Likely to put you next to some one you have avoided for years. Plenty of cocktails, but not much to follow. Full of old whcezes. The Carringfords—Sutton Place. Ex- cellent hors d'ceuvres, but cold-storage birds. The old man insists upon mix- ing the salad dressing himself. Much talk of a superb wine-cellar, but no results. Domestic cigars. The Thombley-Joneses— Park Av- enue. Great on theatre parties, but never arrive until the end of the second act. A slippery dining-room floor. what a whale of a difference just a few cents make Serve grape-juice punch after the fish. Bring your own cigarettes. The Innestairs—Washington Square, North. Don't arrive on time. Mrs. I always late and ecffusively apologetic. Mr. I. usually all in. Strong on spa- ghetti, but weak on conversation. Chianti with a kick to it. Think the butler makes it. The Clayberrys—East Slst Street. Never enough cocktails, but always a crowd of relations. Russian art and the high cost of living the favorite topics of discussion. Once in a.great while will produce some admirable brandy. As a rule, only iced water. Insist upon exhibiting the little ones. The Demmingbrookes—East 72nd Street. Never fewer than thirty cov- ers. Two bands and a troupe of prancers. Pol Roger and Johnny Walker their best friends. Platinum- tipped cigarettes. Coronas under glass. Get the address right. C. GS. Louvain Library Fund Tis being the season when funding of nations’ debts or making some ar- rangement for their prevalent, how woulc to join the procession and finish this Louvain matter? It was our nation’s promise; and high time we fulfilled it. Besides, the new Louvain Library is America’s memorial to her soldiers in the cemeteries of France, the boys who didn’t come back. Help us to pay for that memorial. Previously acknowledged... .$881.00 Parker B, Newell, Pla 1.00 monix, France...... + 10,00 $892.00 Now that the vacation season has drawn to a close, every American knows one resort he will not visit next summer. comicbooks.com