Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, August 1921 · page 57 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #23 — page 57: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate humor pieces satirizing social changes, particularly around courtship and gender roles. **"An Old-Timer"** jokes about generational consistency in rule-breaking. A Cambridge student hides his sister (violating dorm regulations) when an elderly alumnus visits. The visitor sees behind the curtain but treats it as unremarkable—"the same old game"—suggesting that students have always secretly entertained female visitors, making the rule violation timeless rather than scandalous. **"But, My Dear"** satirizes women's fashion and dating standards. Florine demands eye contact from suitors; Chlorine's reply suggests wearing longer eyelashes so Florine can't maintain eye contact, mocking both women's vanity and unrealistic expectations. The remaining aphorisms mock modern girls' behavior: they pursue romance through dancing rather than for dancing's sake; unlike "old-fashioned girls," they'll go out regardless of wardrobe; women are endlessly curious about men's private lives. The overall theme: modern youth, especially women, are abandoning traditional propriety and propriety-based constraints.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang 55 An Old-Timer A Cambridge under-graduate, contrary to regulations, was entertaining his sister, when they heard someone on the stairs. Hastily hiding his sister behind a curtain, he went to the door and confronted an aged man who was revisiting the scenes of his youth, and was desirous of seeing his old rooms. Obtaining permission, he looked around, and remarked, “Ah, yes, the same old room.” Going to the window, he said, “The same old view”; and peeping behind the curtain, he exclaimed, “The same old game!” “My sister, sir,” said the student. “Oh, yes,” said the visitor, “the same old story!”—Tit-Bits. * * * But, My Dear— Florine: I won’t marry a man who won’t look me straight in the eye while he is talking to me. Chlorine: Then wear ’em longer, dearie. * * * Girls no longer love to dance. They dance to love. * * * The old fashioned girl used to stay home when she had nothing to wear. * * * The feminine half of the world may not know how the masculine half lives, but it never tires of trying to find out.