Life, 1926-10-14 · page 26 of 44
Life — October 14, 1926 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the distracted male consciousness. The top cartoon shows men discussing a woman painter, with the punchline that a "realist" is a female real estate agent—mocking both the art world and women entering business. The main feature, "The Morning Paper," depicts a man's fragmented thoughts while commuting. He attempts to read the newspaper but is distracted by a woman's exposed legs and transparent stockings across from him. His mental stream jumps between genuine news (stock market, European diplomacy, Prohibition debates) and his struggle not to stare. The satire works on two levels: it mocks male behavior and society's shock at women's changing fashion (shorter skirts, visible legs) in the 1920s. The man considers this immodest—"a few years ago a rainy skirt was thought immodest"—yet can't stop looking. The joke critiques both male distraction and generational hypocrisy about women's liberation and changing dress codes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE SAYS SHE’S A REALIST. “AND WHAT THE HECK’S THA “WHY, YE DURN FOOL, A REALIST IS A LADY REALTOR!” “Not much on the first page this morning, not even decent Good gosh, but that girl op- posite doesn't care how she sits! Here’s a hold-up, though. Bandit drives car through restaurant window and robs—pink garters, and she doesn’t care who knows it, either. And what an innocent baby st President Cool- idge armony in’ next Congress. Sees possibility— darn pretty leg, if you ask me —of further tax reduction if Congress adheres to policy of economy. Only a few ago a rainy skirt was thought immodest and now they show both knees in pub- lic and think nothing of it! Europe plans another dis- armament conference, huh? Italy’s attitude alarms diplo- mats should skirts ride up much further. Don’t they crime. The Morning Paper Mental Process of a Man Seated Opposite a Very Short Skirt and a Pair of Very, Very Transparent Silk Stockings wear anything at all when Europe is on the verge of another war? Stock market unsettled and bears ac- tive at opening. My Lord, there's least three inches of flesh in sight! I don’t believe she knows it; she can’t realize how Wets and Drys sie: “GALLE TUE FIREMAN’S DAY OFF battle for control of Middle West. I wonder if I’m staring. I suppose I ought to read some car-cards just to make it appear as if — Texas growers report—there’s a fresh bird watching to see if I'm looking at her. It sure is the limit the way these kids _ dress! French renew efforts 2 to restore franc. There simply can’t be anything under it!" AH. F. College Bred “CNOLLE certainly made my boy ov “You can hardly recognize him now, ch “No—he hardly recognizes me. has SIGN before a Missouri house bears this Drive Slow! Chick- Dollars Each!” comicbooks.com