Life, 1927-01-06 · page 17 of 39
Life — January 6, 1927 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct pieces of social satire: **Top illustration**: A hospital scene where military or official visitors question a wounded soldier about "when the shooting began," while someone interjects they know "a place where we can get some good near-beer." This satirizes Prohibition-era hypocrisy—officials visiting wounded soldiers while discussing illegal alcohol procurement. **"Thoughts of a Popular Belle at a Dance"**: A female narrator complains that attractive men constantly pursue her while homely girls are ignored. She's frustrated by the superficiality and admits she'll likely marry an unattractive man anyway. This satirizes the shallow nature of social courtship and the difficulty women face being valued for anything beyond appearance. **"A Shopping Tour of New York"**: A brief satirical dialogue mocking women's shopping habits and merchants' high prices across Manhattan locations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHEN DID THE SHOOTING BEGIN?” “WHEN SOMEBODY UP AND SAYS, ‘I KNOW A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET SOME GOOD NEAR-BEER. Thoughts of a Popular Belle at a Dance 'M certainly having a whirl to- night that’s my forty-eighth cut- in already and every one attractive gosh look at Emelina Stodge she’s been stuck for an hour with that coal-heaver from Passaic why on earth will unattractive girls keep on going to parties anyway I bet he'd gladly throw her off the balcony to get rid of her funny she’s not so bad-looking cither just doesn’t get away that’s all I wish I could do something about it guess I'll tell the next man who cuts in on me to cut in on her unless it’s somebody I want to dance with me again and gosh I want them all back I’m going to break my record for cut-ins to-night this dress gets them it’s so slinky and I have got a stunning figure and gosh I'm pretty gee it’s nice to be popular poor Emelina I actually feel terribly sorry for her but why on earth does she come to parties I wouldn't if I didn’t get away like a breeze here comes Teddy Wyman back for more he’s frightfully sweet but I wouldn’t dare sit out with him he always wants to pet and it musses your hair gosh but he dances divinely but I don’t care how they dance as long as they keep cutting in there Douglas: po you BELIEVE IN ELOPE- MENTS? NO; I WOULDN’T EVEN IMAGINATION RUN AWAY WITH ME. Dorothea: LET MY that makes fifty-two and fifty-one is the club record my God I'm happy poor Emelina I wish I could do something about it. Lloyd Mayer. A Shopping Tour of New York HE Bowery—‘Come in, lady. Come in and try it on.” 14th Street — “Dearie, it looks swell on you.” 34th Street—“A good, serviceable coat.” 42nd Street—“It's body’s wearing this Fifth Avenue — dollars. Park Avenue—"No, Mrs. Ma- zuma, that is not suited to you.” 57th Street—‘An imported model, madame.” I81st Street — “It takes three yards and five-eighths and you cut it so and so and sew.” Fordham Road—Come in, lady. Come and try it on.” K. M. what every- son.” ve thousand comicbooks.com