Life, 1926-11-11 · page 10 of 45
Life — November 11, 1926 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a poem titled "Touchdown" by Roger Burlingame about taking a woman to a football game. The narrator describes hiring a car, buying her roses, and trusting her with his wealth—only to watch their team lose, causing him emotional devastation while she remains unmoved by the defeat. The satirical point: the poem mocks male emotional investment in sports and the absurdity of a man's romantic gestures being overshadowed by athletic disappointment. The humor targets masculine vulnerability and the disproportionate importance placed on game outcomes. The bottom cartoon, "The First Snake Dance After a Victory," depicts celebratory snakes dancing at a stadium after a win—a whimsical, surreal image contrasting with the poem's melancholy tone and likely referencing actual celebratory "snake dances" (conga-line celebrations) that occurred after sports victories.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Signals Quarterback: 47-28-16-3-10-80. 2 OM, JACK—WHAT DOES THAT M. THAT MEANS “CARRY IT OVER, FOR Gop’s S\KE—REMEMBER THERE'S SIX BIG LEAGUE SCOUTS WATCHING Us!” Touchdown TOOK her to the game... I Well, I was young and then, somehow, 0 been in love and not to blame, For she was beautiful, but all the same, I would not do it now. I bought her roses red... I hired a car to take her there; Her little shoes were not designed to tread Upon the frozen ground. I also fed Her on expensive fare. These things I did and more And, in the folly of my teens, I trusted blindly in the final score By all the omens destined to restore My wealth to empty jeans. The play began; her e: Looked down upon the frantic fray With such a knowing look I thought her wise Beyond her sex, and thrilled with proud surprise To think she grasped the play. Two quarters and a third... A zero stood on either score. She sat in quivering suspense; nor stirred, Nor spoke one mad, misunderstanding word As girls had done before. Still score ran the last, Till but a minute stood to play, When suddenly, too sickeningly fast To sec or understand, a man flashed past, Stopped, dodged and broke away. “Stop him!” A futile cry. He crossed the line and hope was dead. I wept. Pride, wealth and joy had passed me by... “They've won,” I sobbed, and turned for sympathy; She smiled. ‘Which side?” she said. Roger Burlingame. .LO, old man. Join me in a bite to eat?” No, thanks. I just had a little lunch for break- fast at a supper-club.” ——JrFapraly ayaa) [steven] 010 10 [6 The First Snake Dance After a Victory comicbooks.com