Life, 1928-09-14 · page 17 of 40
Life — September 14, 1928 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes formal courtship rituals of the early 20th century. The poem "Formal Proposal" by Harry Kemp mocks an overdressed suitor—wearing a high white collar, stiff shirt, and tall black hat—who must work up courage to propose to a woman at a bar. The humor derives from the contrast between his elaborate formal appearance and his anxiety. He fantasizes about her while smoking cigars and drinking, finally kissing her after discussing the World's Fair. The poem suggests that despite rigid social conventions requiring formal dress and ceremonial behavior, courtship remains fundamentally awkward and emotionally messy. The accompanying cartoons (including one captioned about a "Gangster at Night Club") appear to illustrate urban social scenes of the Jazz Age, contrasting formal pretense with casual reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIiFeE Formal Proposal He wore a high white collar that Seared a red line beneath his chin; He wore a tall black shiny hat, He wore a tall black shiny hat; A stiff shirt that was more like tin. He thought of that great chandelier All-dazzling in new-fangled gas; He drank three cool great draughts of He drank three cool great draughts of beer From a great overfoaming glass. “GRP RS RRR ERA I Bee He clipped and smoked a fat cigar; He thought of how she waited there; He dreamed at the long polished bar, He dreamed at the long polished bar: Tourist: And how do you like the Gov-} Gaqi she was sweet! Gad! she was ernment, old man? fair! Iran Epitor: Ob, I can't complain. Pre 2. Before he dared to join her there real football and making a definite and Remote and lovely as a star, fearless technical statement: Yale, Pitt, His formal passion to declare, Princeton, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, His formal passion to declare,— “Oh, Mr. Jones!" Stanford, Army, Navy, Dartmouth and| He chewed six Sen-Sens at the bar... — : twelve other colleges to be named later 7 on will have good teams this fall. And | Serene, aloofly circumspect Her haughty mother wished her well s will Notre Dame. (Don’t shoot! Your] She sat and heard the tinkling bell— And swept faint-smiling from the Alma Mater is included in the “twelve |He paused a moment to reflect, room: other colleges.” It’s to be a surprise for} He paused a moment to reflect: She turned the gas down as she went, you.) John Kieran, That echo sounded like a knell!.... |She turned the gas down as she went To lend the Moment friendlier gloom. mi B “And this is our newest shower—it sprays not only from the top but from all sides.” RErRs PLHOULAND —* Clad hiddenly from head to boot, a Clad hiddenly from toe to chin, That Queen of formal long pursuit, That Queen of formal long pursuit, She drew her toe-tips father IDss0%% way une ons 100. ort. em, est h is ERE At last her scented hand he caught; To his surprise she let it lie— Discussed the World's Fair, while he thought, Discussed the World’s Fair, while he thought "T was done! his bachelorhood’s eclipse Began!—a moment hushed they sat! And then he dared to kiss her lips, And then he dared to kiss her lips, And formally resumed his hat. anes Harry Kemp. ‘ —— JUMPED HIS JOB oy First Fea: So you've left that old hyena, ch? sins, Stconp Frea: Yeah, I've got me a gnu ne location. that Companionate version: “Say, nto Gancster (at Night Club): How about a ten per cent discount on this check? I’: haven’t I been married to you before one of the profession. some place?” comicbooks.com