Life, 1921-11-03 · page 34 of 34
Life — November 3, 1921 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine presents three distinct pieces of satirical content: **Jim Henry's Column ("How Big is Enough?")** advertises Mennen Shaving Cream by arguing against aggressive advertising. Henry suggests that quiet, gentlemanly persuasion works better than flashy circus-like displays—a meta-commentary on advertising itself that ironically *is* the advertisement. **"Love Song of a Germ"** is humorous light verse personifying bacteria as romantic lovers planning a leisurely journey through the human body, eventually settling down to "breed." It satirizes both Victorian romantic poetry and contemporary scientific understanding of disease. **"What Every Reader Knows"** contains brief comic exchanges, including one joke where someone asks how long "Bilter" has been married, and the reply "Individually or collectively?" suggests marital infidelity or promiscuity—a risqué joke for the era. The page also features a Roger & Gallet perfume advertisement and appears to be from the 1920s based on style and sensibility. The overall tone reflects *Life*'s characteristic blend of commerce, humor, and social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jim Henrys Colum How big is Enough ? It being generally known that I am an amateur ad writer, I get a lot of free advice from experts. “Why don’t you use big space?” one of these friends asked me just a few minutes ago. “Spread your stuff over a couple of pages. Dress it up like a circus. The Public expects to be knocked off its feet these days. This dinky little column of yours isn’t exciting enough.” I wonder. You are reading right along, aren’t you? Here are you and I off ina corner by ourselves alking over quietly like a couple of gentlemen a method of making your shaving more pleasant and efficient. Of course, you know I am planning to sell you Mennen Shaving Cream in the end, but is that any reason why I should use a megaphone with a brass band accompaniment or try to hypnotize you with a lot of wildly displayed superlatives or obviously fallacious scientific nonsense? Let’s be just reasonable. For some reason or other, which we needn’t discuss, it seems to be generally conceded that Mennen Shaving Cream is a very superior aiticle. Others admit that in order to find out just what it is in Mennen’s which men like so well. I don’t mind that a bit. It is the fine American spirit of always trying to be as good as the best. But is there any sense in letting these ambitious experimenters interfere with your equally American preference for using the best ? I've said all I wanted to and my column seems to have been large enough after all. ° bese Hew (Mennen Salesman) P.S. I almost forgot my demonstrator tube, 10 cents by mail. THe Mennen Company Newark, VJ. USA. Love Song of a Germ OME, bacillus, let us wander, Wander ever, hand in hand, Down the capillaries yonder, Down that yonder shady gland. Myriad microbe relations Have no claims upon you, dear; Leave them to their occupations, You deserve your own career. Countless cousins will not miss you, Happy in their own disease; Tripping through the tender tissue, We may work what ills we please. Does the wanderlust possess you? I'll indulge it, dearest germ; | We will roam to regions, bless you, Named by no researches’ term. Camping in the mountain muscles, Bathing in a quiet vein, Dodging vicious red corpuscles, Summering at Aches-le-Brain. Gliding in a light gondola On abdominal canals, Only fancy shall control a Pair of perfect poison pals! they have made thousands of experiments | Slipping past the epiglottis, By the tonsils to the tongue, | Traveling till the days have caught us When we are no longer young. Then, our tastes become: domestic, We shall search a quiet home, Snug and safe from antiseptic, There to breed and not to roam. Come, bacillus, my infection Grows too potent to suppress— Quick, here comes your Aunty Toxin! Hide with me and tell me “Yes.” C. P. Ivins. How to Make Opera Pay Hock the Jewels of the Madonna. Confiscate the tips of the Barber of Seville. Reduce Carmen’s wages. Melt le Coq d’Or. Make the Juggler of Notre Dame do two shows a day. What Every Reader Knows Brices: What is this silly season they say comes over the newspapers; how does one know it? Griccs: Easy.: It always begins with an interview with Thomas Edison. “Loox here, doctor, isn’t that a pretty stiff sum to charge me for that oper- ation?” “My dear sir, consider how much of it I have to turn over to the govern- ment.” “How long has Bilter been married?” “Individually or collectively ?” 32 Gragrance pee a lovel is stn rance~ in the Luxurious Productions of AND GALLET S In the selection of your person- al fragrance—consider Roger & Gallet as you consider your florist. Yet not even his loveliest J LA blossoms can offer you the ex- og quisite variety of fragrance you will find in the many toilet preparations of this world- famous house BEST DEALERS EVERYWHERE Our booklet “Exquisite Parisian Toilet Specialties” on request comicbooks.com