Life, 1926-11-25 · page 27 of 44
Life — November 25, 1926 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains multiple short humorous pieces satirizing early 20th-century American social conventions and culture. **"Paradox"** mocks gender expectations: a woman receives compliments on her charm and cleverness, but privately resents being appreciated for appearance rather than intellect, and intellect rather than beauty—suggesting women faced contradictory, impossible standards. **"The Candor Kid"** satirizes excessive frankness as social rudeness: a character refuses a meeting with brutal honesty about having too many friends, inverting normal politeness. **"All the Comforts at Home"** jokes that radio entertainment is so poor, guests prefer sitting in a garage over listening indoors. **"A Record Catch"** plays on criminal stereotypes: a policeman assumes a man is a gangster because he claims never being arrested—implying Chicago criminals were so common, innocence seemed suspicious. The **Shakespeare quote** about women's lectures needing "leisure" suggests period attitudes toward women's education. These pieces reflect 1920s anxieties about changing social roles, technology, and urban crime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Paradox “YFOU are so charming,” said Peter to me, “You listen so wistfully; There’s a startled surprise In your great, dark eyes That goes to the heart of me.” “Thank you, dear Peter,” I shyly re- plied, “You really are too kind”; (Does he think I'm a fool... To drivel and drool?... Why can't he admire my mind!) “You are so clever,” said Paul to me; “You've a wit most scintillating; Such wisdom astute And perception acute Are really ,most captivating.” “Thank you, dear Paul,” I gaily re- plied, “I'm gl wise’; (Did my voice have a break?... What a queer little ache... He never once noticed my eyes!) Martha L. Wilchinski. that you think me so SHAKESPEARE ON THE RADIO AND WHEN IN MUSIC WE HAVE SPENT AN HOUR, YOUR LECTURE SHALL MAVE LEISURE. Taming of the Shrew. Climax of a Career Scene: The interior of a theatre. IRST SCRUB-LADY: They say the new show's quite a hit Srconp Scrvus-Lapy: A_ hit! Dearie, it’s the biggest wow that ever I scrubbed for. “THIS crime has that schoolgirl complexion,” said the detective as he sorted out the clues, which con- sisted of an empty pint flask, twenty cigarette butts, one compact, a fancy garter, a pocket comb. and a copy of “Sparkling Mud.” All the Comforts at Home He: 1’veE TUNED IN ON A GOOD ORCHESTRA. SHALL WE DANCE? His Friend: No—.et’s GO OUT TO THE GARAGE AND SIT THIS ONE OUT. The Candor Kid “Y EET Mister Smith!” Sorry,” said the Soul of Candor, “but I must decline to meet you, Mr. Smith. You are doubt- less a worthy person, and I have nothing whatsoever against you. But I have far too many friends as it is. My social obligations are fast driv- ing me to distraction. If I agreed to meet you now, the agreement would be a mere form, an empty sham, a hollow mockery. I would probably never say hello to you again. Not through any dislike of you, but rather for lack of time. It is such a hurried world we live in. Extremely sorry, Mr. Smith, not to be able to mect you, and I hope—cor- dially—never to see you again!” Cyril B. Egan. Qualification HE word “cheer- full means cheerfully, except in the phrase, “money cheerfully refunded.” A Record Catch “T THINK I've nabbed a Chicago gunman, Chief,” said the New York policeman. “What makes you think so?” “Well, he insists that he’s never been pinched before.” NE that res ed the temptation to turn professional last summer was the Sesquicentennial. A Few Words After the Fight “1 KNOW DE DECISION WENT AGAINST ME, FOLKS, BUT IF YOU WAS ONLY HERE TO SEE WIT YER OWN BYES, You’D KNOW DAT MY OPPONENT NEVER HIT ME ONCET.” comicbooks.com