Life, 1921-09-29 · page 27 of 34
Life — September 29, 1921 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This September 1920 *Life* magazine page contains several short humorous pieces: **"The Last Cry"** satirizes aggressive book marketing. Two children have book advertisements literally written on their clothing—they've become walking billboards for the fictional authors "John and Elizabeth Wimpleton." The joke: a publisher so eager to promote books he can't resist turning children into advertisements. The final line reveals the absurdity: the publisher writes blurbs (promotional quotes) on *everything*, even wasting them on book jackets. **"Unlike Mohammed"** is a one-line quip defining gossip as someone who exaggerates small issues into major drama. **"Never Again"** presents dark humor: an optimist drowning finds a "lesson" in the experience, suggesting naïve positivity even in catastrophe. The remaining cartoons use similar quick-joke formats typical of *Life's* satirical style—domestic comedy and social observation rendered in simple drawings with punchy punchlines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
September 29 The Last Cry LITTLE boy and a tiny girl toddled past our bench in the park, mith,” I said, “what have they been doing to those children? Looks as if someone’s been writing all over their dothes.” “Haven't you seen them before?” asked Smith. “I'll bring them over and let you look at them.” At closer range it was quite easy to read on the back of the boy’s tunic: Hilary By John and Elizabeth Wimpleton | red-blooded, virile and grip- ping piece of work by two new authors. \ successful Suburbia Monitor. Cigars are. on collaboration — Wimpleton- Bookman’s Weekly. Once picked up, impossible to pul Hilary down.—Nurse Smith- er \nd stenciled on the little girl: Just PusLisHep Arabella By John and Elizabeth Wimpleton, Authors of Hilary ! fluffily bound work in quite a dijferent style from these popular authors’ first great success. | found it difficult to shut Ara- hella—Miss Prudence Prim. ‘luent . . . provoking . . ed.—Daily Comment. ay the Wimpletons soon have a library full—Suburbia Monitor. - un- “\Vhat does it all mean?” I asked. “Inst force of habit,” answered h. “Wimpleton writes blurbs for blisher and he can’t bear to see a jacket wasted.” T. W. Jones. Answers to Queries J. B—Ruth, Aug. 2, inning. ke * X.-—At the Polo Grounds. Bases full. Batter Ruth, o* * * F\n.—The left field bleachers. 46t! ek * S. O. S—B. wins. 6% inches. * * * T. W.—No bet. Either Bambino or Sultin of Swat is correct. ~ * * * Besstz—They never found the ball. * * * 1920, third His Ruth, 179 ft. Yer—Geometricians call it a para- hela “Poor fellow! I hear that he’s a nervous wreck!” “Yes. He tried to compile a genealogy of the Rabbit family.” Unlike Mohammed A Gossip is one who can make a mountain out of a molehill and then bring it to you. Never Again “Went, anyway,” said the Optimist just before drowning, “this will teach me a lesson.” ABT. He Ought to Have Known—He Made It Little Lorena: Maw, you'd better come ’ere—I think there’s some thing the matter with pop. comicbooks.com