Life, 1928-03-15 · page 5 of 34
Life — March 15, 1928 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch mocks Spartan militarism by depicting a domestic scene where a Spartan father prioritizes military training over family comfort. The cartoon contrasts the stern, regimented Spartan lifestyle with modern domestic expectations. The humor centers on the father's obsession with his son's martial conditioning—he's annoyed the boy hasn't practiced shield-work enough and dismisses coddling. The mother's frustration with fish-hooks being used as household furniture and her reference to pre-marital courtship customs emphasizes how Spartan militarism has corrupted normal family life. The cartoon likely critiques rigid, militaristic societies that subordinate all personal and domestic values to military preparation—possibly a commentary on contemporary militarism or Prussian-style state control, though the specific historical reference remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Scene: A small, rigorous interior, elaborately furnished with every dis- comfort. A Spartan mother is bus- ily jabbing herself with a nail file. Across the room, a Spartan father is unemotionally sitting on some broken bottles and reading about the spring trip of the Pain Bearing Team. PARTAN MOTHER: Lycurgus, I'm really worried about Junior. Seantan Fatuer (inserting a nettle under his trousers): Hm? Srantan Moruer: Do put down that paper and listen to me! Spartan Fatuer: Well, what's all the rumpus about? Hasn't Junior been doing his home work? Srantan Motuer (tensely): He hasn't taken his tortures for over a week ! Srantan Fatuer: He hasn't? Why, | saw him out in the yard this afternoon with his fox. Said he was Just going to do his vital-gnawing. Srantan Motner: Of course you didn't wait to see! Lycurgus, when that boy came in to supper, his vitals were absolutely intact! And what's tore, his teacher told me personally that every pupil is supposed to build The Diplomat Home Life in Sparta a fire under himself at least once a week and he hasn't even done that. Spartan Fatuer: Oh, well, we mustn't be too hard on the boy. He's young—and anyhow, I heard him practicing com in g-home-with-his- shield-or-on-it, just yesterday. Spartan Motuer (with a scorn- ful laugh): I don’t know what you He Swattowep His Prwe heard him doing, but he certainly wasn't practicing with his shield, be- cause he’s given it to a little Greek girl to wear to the Stoic Prom! (With an air of triumph, she sits on a cushion stuffed with thistles, carpet tacks and mustard gas.) Spartan Fatuer (absent- mindedly chewing a couple of old razor blades): Hmph! Don't like that kind of nonsense much... .But after all— Spartan Motuer: And you know those fish-hooks you used to stick in your legs before we were married? Well, he took those and went fishing with them! Spartan Fatuer: WHAT!! I'll speak to that young man myself about this! By George, Mother, I don’t know what's got into these boys nowadays. They’re not what they were when J was young. Getting soft, that’s what's the matter with ‘em! (He reaches out for a passing bumblebee and tucks it down inside his shirt.) Curtain. Heman Fay, Jr. comicbooks.com