Life, 1927-07-28 · page 7 of 36
Life — July 28, 1927 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical dialogue criticizes the younger generation's drinking habits. The cartoon depicts a social scene where a man and woman discuss whether youth drink more than previous generations. **The satire's point:** The woman defends young people, suggesting heavy drinking is inevitable and will "work itself out." The man counters that previous generations didn't drink as much. The humor lies in her resigned acceptance of alcohol abuse as an unavoidable social problem rather than something requiring intervention. **Context:** This reflects Prohibition-era concerns (pre-1920s) about youth morality and drinking. The "Incredible" sidebar mocks a man named Fred for wearing lipstick, suggesting anxieties about changing gender norms alongside concerns about moral decay. The overall message satirizes permissive attitudes toward youth vice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PSHE'S CHARMING, ISN'T site] SO DELIGHTPULLY OLD-PASIIONED AND CONVENTIONAL. She: Ves, 16's THIRD EVERY TING ELse SHE: What do you really think of Hr: Well, T s'pose those things just Site: T s'pose t all this criticism of the ye generation? He: Well, in a way I s'pose it’s justified. f sort of have to work themselves out But I think drir Ste: 1 s'pose it is, isn’t it? But don't you think people have always been the } | 5 { f | “Those Things Have to Work Themselves Out” | I spose it is, isn IT wish the same, sort of ? He: Yes younger I guess the things just sort. of neration to-day isn’t any worse than it ever was. Sur: T s’pose it isn’t, is o work then it? But I don’t think young don't you really think people used to drink as do? I much as they do now, do . you really think they did? Incredible Hr: No, I guess not Sur: T really think the way everybody drinks now is terrible, don’t you? He: Absolutely! Sue: T wish there was something you could sort of do about it, do you know “iere’s ses’ pe Jon ro’ yo’, Ke! CULLUD MAN TO what I mean? DUST SEATS IN A REST ROOM.” “THEY say Fred is hor- ribly bashful “Ba ul! Why. he i the other day if | asked 1 lipstick had any flavor comicbooks.com