Life, 1927-09-01 · page 13 of 40
Life — September 1, 1927 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate pieces of satirical content: **"Ballade of a Well-Earned Weariness"** (by Dorothy Parker): A poem mocking romantic idealism, suggesting it's better to be pragmatic about love than pursue futile passion. **"Greek Meets Greek"**: A cartoon showing two men in classical dress debating the Parthenon's completion date and "the year of the big freeze"—likely satirizing pedantic scholarly arguments or perhaps immigrants' affected classical pretensions. **"As Usual"** and **"Ground for Hope"**: Brief humorous prose pieces about shopping for dinner gowns and romantic disappointment, representing typical Life magazine comic vignettes of domestic life and failed romance. The overall theme emphasizes disillusionment with romance and social pretense—characteristic of 1920s satirical humor targeting both sentimental idealism and affected intellectualism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Ballade of a Well-Earned Weariness T! ERE’S little to have but the things I had, There's little to bear but the things I bore. There's nothing to carry, and naught to add, And glory to Heaven, 1 paid the se There's little to do but I did be There's little to learn but the thi And this is the sum of a lastin Scratch a lover, and find a foe. And couldn't it be I was young and m If ever my heart on my sleeve I wore? There’s many to claw at a heart unclad, And little the wonder it ripped and tore. There's one that'll join in their push and roar, With stories to jabber and stones to throw. He'll fetch you a lesson that costs you sore Scratch a lover, and find a foe. So little I'll offer to you, my lad; It's little in loving I set my store. There's many a maid would be flushed and glad, And better you'll knock at a kindlier door, Vl dig at my lettuce, and sweep my tloo Forever, forever I’m done with woe! And happen Ul whistle, about my chore, “Scratch a lover, and find a foe.” Iv Exvor Oh, beggar or prince, no more, no more. Be off and away with your strut and show. The sweeter the apple, the blacker the eore— Scratch a lover, and find a foc! Dorethy Parker. Shopper: Wienke ane THE Corsets, PLEASE? Shop-girl: you'L. FIND THEM IN THE ANTIQUE DEPART MENT FOUR AISLES TO THE LEPT, MA‘AM, As Usual - I was a stunning ereation—an exquisite product of t couturicr’s artistry in chartreuse moiré, of a be witehing bouffaney of silhouette; and as the enthusiastic modiste with her own trembling fingers draped it about her shopper's lovely Christine found the dinner gown compelling, well-nigh irresistible But) when Madame had delicately conveyed an intimation as to the price, she was forced tot tfal conclusion that it was more than she could afford She was positively enchanting the first time she wore the dinner gown Edward A, Barney Ground for Hope Greek Meets Greek “GLAD to see you're looking happier, Ned. ‘The last time T saw you, you were all broken up beeause “HOW NOW, ARCHIMEDES? CAN You TELL ME WHAT YEAR Clara had written you breaking your engagement. Has SAW THE COMPLETION OF TILE PARTHENON 2?” she changed her mind? “ASK ME ANOTHER! THAT WAS THE YEAR OF TITER BIG “Well, no. But Tve reread her letter and [find she rrirnze!” says, ‘1 do not choose to become vour wife comicbooks.com