Life, 1926-02-25 · page 10 of 36
Life — February 25, 1926 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"Backward"** (top sketch): A brief comic exchange mocking impatient youth on trains, with no specific political reference—just observational humor about social behavior. **"Down with the Ages"** (right column): A poem by Lois Whitcomb complaining that comparisons to classical beauties (Helen of Troy, Sappho, Nicolette) are tedious clichés. She demands "specific" compliments instead. This satirizes overworn romantic flattery and flowery poetic conventions. **"The Greater Glory"** (bottom): Two illustrations depicting excited boys watching a house fire, then a formal party scene. The humor contrasts childhood enthusiasm for spectacle with adult social pretense and awkwardness. None reference specific political events or identifiable figures—they're purely social satire targeting universal human behaviors and dated romantic conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
nore THROUGH NELS. A LOT OF TUN- Z MY GOD, BOY, DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT POR A TUNNEL? The Greater Glory “Here, here.” Two small boys, tleman, apparently unmindful of the conflagra- tion, N excited throng watched the court- house b win, interposed an old gen- “you boys shouldn't fight. Why aren't you “We're decidin’ which of us saw me of them panted. he fire?” were fighting cach other, tooth and nail—there on the lawn. Fir. ‘atecrasher: “CAN'T SAY. I'M A STRANGER MYSELF WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS? Down with the Ages 'M lovelier than Heloise? As wise as Cleo i But wh. allures? ance have these Poetic compliments of yours? 1 don't That That That 3 see what it matters now Trojan Helen once » had a perfect brow, icolette was debonair. Comparing With Ca Makes litt Such large, vague me with Guinevere, . Portia or Isolde cold. However grand_ these I'm bored with everything you say 1 wish you’ De Mille around perating way Your continuity is bad, And all tt Be more Let's have a Lois Whitcomb Improvement ATHER: Can you sup aghter as I have vitor: I could, but 1 am not that stingy! ot SS y SN AROUND HERE.” comicbooks:com