Life, 1926-05-20 · page 17 of 44
Life — May 20, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine features a satirical cartoon titled "The Gay Nineties" depicting a couple in an intimate domestic moment—a man offering a woman a chair by a window. The caption references "the tête-à-tête chair and the dance program with its little pencil on a silken cord—two fine old institutions that have gone to join the dodo bird." The satire targets the loss of Victorian courtship rituals and social conventions. The accompanying text, "The Nesting Season" and "Her Permanent," humorously discusses modern couples choosing practical apartment living and economic considerations over romantic tradition. The cartoon mocks how contemporary (1890s-era) life has abandoned elaborate social formalities—specifically the intimate two-person chair and dance card customs—replacing them with mundane domestic reality, reflecting anxieties about modernization and changing social values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE GAY NINETIES THE TETE-A-TETE CHAIR AND THE DANCE PROGRAM WITH ITS LITTLE PENCIL ON The Nesting Season T saw had the cutest drop-leaf but my kitchen cabinet wouldn't Aunt Myrtle’s gift, you know, and afford to offend her, so I had to- —First floor, and a private door to the porch, and it did ca But, my dear, when we looked into the bath- room there was no tub, liked that, of course I decid —Only forty-five, but a horrid, stuffy little efficiency ; and although the bay window was lovely, it was a northwest corner and sure to be cold in winter, so— —Yes, it is rather far out, but Ethel says it's really cheaper, after you get to know the right stores, and where we are now everybody acts so disagreeable because poor —TWO FINE OLD INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE GONE TO JOIN THE noo - ELL, the one breakfast have g¢ we simply car ly a sho: and although Bob Fluffy barks all day in the SILKEN CORD BIRD. apartm fresh air will be better for- The only thing is, where could we put C After giving us that check, she'll be with us wh —Not a they sure to w she’s in te nd there isn't an inch hang anyth say that pictures aren't by might as well ¢ is just what we— Corinne Her Permanent R. HIGHBROW:: King Canute tried to Mr. Lowsrow: Yes, but I'l bet his getting them just the same the wave: wife went on comicbooks.com