Life, 1928-06-07 · page 17 of 54
Life — June 7, 1928 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a two-panel satirical comparison about dueling etiquette. The "Then" panel (left) depicts a dramatic historical duel scene with formal procedures—weapons selection, bandages prepared, and ritualized counting to fire. The "Now" panel (right) shows a modern urban setting where two figures appear at a building window, suggesting romance or casual flirtation. The satire critiques how Americans of the period have abandoned formal honor codes. The text emphasizes this: one character notes that settling affairs of honor through dueling is outdated, yet the fundamental issue—a lady's reputation—remains unchanged. The final caption about "taking the politics out of politics" suggests this reflects broader cultural shifts toward less formal, more pragmatic social conduct in early 20th-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE The Serenade—Then There are two kinds of fisher- men: those who fish for sport and those who catch something. “For He Had Spoken Lightly of a Lady’s Name” “....Anp there on the balcony were the Duke and Lady Alice and they were... .”” Slap! “Sir, I shall demand satisfaction of you!” “I am at your service.” “Very well. Behind the mill on Meri- wether Lane, at daybreak. My seconds will call on you.” “T shall be pleased to keep the rendez- vous. Good day, sir!” “Pistols or swords?” “Pistols, at a hundred paces.....Ugh! This early morning air is chill.” “Select your weapon, sir.” “The small bore, with the pearl-inlaid handle.” “Stand ready.....Doctor, you have the bandages in readiness?” “Aye, sir.” “Seconds, take your position.....At the count of three, fire!”” “One.” “One.” “Two.” “Two.” “Three.” BANG, BANG! “Blood has been drawn! Quick, the bandages!” “Sir Mortimer is down!” “His right arm is hanging helpless at his side!” “Stand aside, varlets!. ... Mortimer, our score has been wiped out. My hand, sir. “Thank you, Guy.” “You fired in the air, did you not?” “Well, the damn gun kicked. That was a lousy gun you gave me.” “You picked it out yourself... .. How's your arm, old man?” “Rotten, thanks. See here, Guy, I don’t object to settling an affair of honor in this way, but honest to gosh, you know as well as I do that Lady Alice did sit out that cotillion with the Duke. And neck! Say, you should have seen them.” Norman R. Jaffray. Click. LET CALLAHAN DO IT! Ecsert (proudly): Yes, sir, I sure did cure my wife of back-seat driving. Avsert (doubtfully): Yeah? Ecsert: Yeah. Th’ last time she tried to bawl me out f'r tryin’ to beat th’ red, I stopped right alongside th’ cop—an’ he The Serenade—Now Wuat our decent citizens are try- only listened a minute before he pinched] ing to do is to take the politics out of her f'r impersonatin’ an officer! politics. comicbooks.com