Life — October 2, 1931 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Hickory, Dickory, Doc" This page features a humorous domestic narrative rather than political satire. A woman describes her preparations before departing on a trip to Africa with Dr. Lyon (referenced in the news item as a scientist studying air pressure effects). She's negotiating with her husband about household management during her absence—mentioning mouse traps, woolen golf socks, moths, and the need to avoid the main kitchen road. The illustration shows a man discovering a mouse in what appears to be a basement or cellar, exclaiming "Ah! Autumn!" The joke appears to be that autumn brings mice indoors, making the woman's practical concerns about pest control timely and justified. The satire gently mocks both domestic anxieties and the absurdity of detailed household instructions before departure.