Life, 1925-11-19 · page 33 of 40
Life — November 19, 1925 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This serialized story satirizes the perceived moral decay of 1920s youth culture, particularly at elite universities like Yale. The narrative follows Ralph Fairfax, a sheltered young man encountering a morally loose social scene at a dance hall called Jo's "Place." The satire targets: - **Jazz Age excess**: abandoned girls, intoxicated students, women smoking openly—all scandalous behaviors for the era - **Youthful weakness**: Ralph succumbs to temptation and wine despite his innocence - **Class anxiety**: elderly ladies stare disapprovingly at Ralph with a woman of questionable virtue The melodramatic plot (mysterious strawberry birthmark, the woman's self-sacrifice) mocks sentimental Victorian morality tales, suggesting they're inadequate guides for navigating modern degeneracy. The story implies even prestigious institutions cannot protect youth from urban corruption. The page also carries advertisements for Wetzel (men's fashion) and Vinoy Park Hotel, typical of *Life*'s satirical-yet-commercial format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Blazing Youth; or, Her Son at Yale (Continued from page 11) at the flushed faces about him, the eyes wild with excite- ment. An abandoned girl paused to raise slightly the edge of her skirt and disclose a glimpse of a twinkling ankle; an intoxicated sophomore leaning far back in his chair pursed his lips in a lewd whistle. Near by a‘woman openly puffed her partner’s cigarette and exhaled it through her nose. Ralph bit his lip, and quickly lowered his eyes. The gay scene was a swaying mist before him; his blood V4 Ze was on fire with the wine he had drunk. Now and again, as Elaine bent to whisper in his ear, the white ostrich plumes fedtERa Reuse on her hat brushed his cheek. Struggle as he might, an NEW YORK overwhelming desire rose in him to seize her gloved finger- tips and press them ardently. The maddening “gloomp” of the oboe bestirred him to a frenzy. Brushing his slender ass to the floor, he grasped Elaine by the wrist. “May I— show you home?” he whispered thickly. N the presentation Mr. Dillon slowly curled the smoke of a cigarette through of correct fashions his teeth as he watched the two disappear through the swing- for men, a comprehen- ing doors; then with a shrug and a mocking laugh he called sive service to a dis- to the undergraduates near by: “I am willing to wager : : ; that Yale will lose to-morrow.” tinguished clientele, “Done,” replied “Soapy” McVent, covering the slick through three genera- stranger's money with his own. “For Yale,” he added tions, has established solemnly. the authoritative position of Wetzel. On the doorstep of Jo's “Place” Ralph paused with Cousin” Elaine. A coach-and-four careened gaily past cm, crowded with his classmates; and the songs of old ile smote his ear. Ralph pulled his turtle-neck sweater high above his ears as two elderly ladies on a tandem bicycle stared at Elaine sharply. Behind him sounded the laughter of the carefree throng; before him on the street corner a Salvation Army group sang lustily “Rock of Ages.” Ralph faltered. “Rafe,” said “Cousin” Elaine softly, “you are sad?” “No,” replied Ralph Fairfax bravely, setting his chin as the strains of “Razzle Dazzle” filtered through the lace cur- tains of Jo's “Place.” “Have you—a mother?” queried the woman tenderly. “My mother eloped when I was very young,” returned Ralph, dashing a tear. “But I hope that some day she will recognize me by the strawberry mark on my left arm.” “Have you—such a mark?” choked Elaine, her face sud- denly gone white. “Yes,” he replied huskily. “Come, let us begone.” From afar came the song of his classmates once again, a song of old Yale; and as he gazed he saw the twinkling lights of the campus blink one by one behind the swaying elms. He was leaving all this—honor, youth, courage—all for what? “Yale, mother o’ men,” sang the distant voices, All the Deli ts of a Florida Winter ‘ou must leave me,” suddenly sobbed the woman called Elaine. “Your duty lies—ther: plus-The Comfort and Jervice “For Yale,” agreed Ralph Fairfax; and burying his head H ich n te in his arm, he staggered towards the beckoning lights of of This Distinctive tto el Alma Mater. One of the largest and finest fireproof resort hotels in Silently Elaine watched him go; then she pressed a tiny Foddso8 beautiful Tampa Bay. Every convenience, A “ ” * “, me splendid appointments, unexcelled cuisine, smiling service. Feeteti to heap Lies Be M74 0y ig chs eich 5 ay baby A Frank H. Abbott & Son hotel under the direction of aip a. ‘ Karl P. Abbott. “Boola Boola,” sang the merry crowd behind her. . A Her cyes flashed with a new courage; and with a wild Paul Whiteman's Vinoy Park Hotel Orchestra laugh she drew a Yale pennant from her bosom and waved For booklet and information address: Vinoy Park Hotel, care it high above her head. “May he win to-morrow, for me of Town and Country, 383 Madison Avenue, New York City, and—for Yale!” Room 302. How It Works VINOY PARK HOTEL Crawrorp: So you bought a radio set, hoping it would ST-PETERSBURG - FLORIDA keep your children home in the evening? CrassHaw: Yes. Now they don't go out until the broad- caster says “Good night.” > -p-p-p-p-P-B-P-D-p-D >>) comicbooks.com