Life, 1926-01-07 · page 25 of 40
Life — January 7, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes idealized masculinity and courtship standards of the 1920s-30s era. The main feature, "The Perfect Cavalier," humorously lists contradictory traits of the ideal gentleman—he's cultured (knows Edna St. Vincent Millay, caviar, Manet) yet practical (fixes phonographs), sophisticated yet considerate (notices women's accessories, brings surprises). The cartoon atop shows two women admiring a man's car, implying a woman's worth is tied to being "seen" with an attractive vehicle—mocking both male materialism and female social climbing. The "Veneer" dialogue joke reveals hypocrisy: a child is praised for politeness but explains he's merely performing manners, not being genuinely nice—satirizing how superficial gentlemanly behavior masks true character. Together, the page mocks the gap between performative sophistication and authentic character in Jazz Age dating culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EUNERNEY Rigg “SWELL CAR, AIN'T IT?” “I'LL SAY SO—WHY, ANY GIRL OUGHTA BE PROUD TO BE SEEN WALKING HOME FROM A CAR LIKE THAT.” HE never has a hard day ahead of him at the office on the morrow. He does not wear his hat atilt. He always has plenty of dollar bills, so that he does not have to touch you temporarily for the taxi-fare. He has never seen any of the plays you haven't. He is never in town “just for the night” and therefore without evening clothes. He eats salad. He doesn’t subscribe to the fallacy that there is a double standard in mani- curing. He does not walk off with all the matches. He knows that flowers for the house are more desirable than corsages. He has heard of Edna St. Vincent “Millay, Beluga caviar, Manet, rose point, the Rhapsody in Blue, Mrs. James Corrigan, the shorter catechism and the burning of the Paris Opera House. He does not sing or hum with the orchestra. The Perfect Cavalier He is a good giggler. He can order a good dinner. He notices your clothes and accesso- Ties. He loves young spring onions. He likes gossip. He never starts a story and then welches on finishing it. He knows how to change typewriter ribbons and fix broken phonographs. NUBBVILLE SPARK FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE AESOP DUTTON HOME WEDNESDAY, BADLY DAMAGIN’ BOTH SIDE CURTAINS, THE REAR CUSHION AN’ PART OF THE TOP. He treats servants whom he does not know personally as if he did not know them personally. He has apparently forgotten all of his college escapades. He can always get a cab when it's raining. He doesn't forget the tickets. He arrives on time, occasionally bear- ing a pleasant surprise. He cracks ice, squeezes fruit and runs cheerfully to the corner for ginger ale, He does not tell you the story about the streetwalker in Venice. He was never a King in Babylon. eee Ask the girl who owns onet Baird Leonard, Veneer RS. KINDLY (to neighborhood urchin): Why aren't you polite and nice like Jimmie? Freppy: Aw, ma’am, he ain't nice— dat’s jus’ manners!