Life, 1923-01-04 · page 35 of 44
Life — January 4, 1923 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a poem titled "Russian It" satirizing American fascination with Russian culture during the early 20th century. The speaker describes a woman who constantly references Moscow, serves tea Russian-style, adopts Russian mannerisms (saying "Kerchoosky" when sneezing), and wears Russian furs. The satire mocks Americans' superficial adoption of Russian aesthetics and habits as fashionable affectation—she's performatively "Russian" to the point of absurdity, and the speaker finds it exhausting. The page also features commercial advertisements (Tiffany & Co., Whiting-Adams brushes) and humor snippets about how to tell if a woman loves you. The "Russian It" poem reflects broader early-1900s American culture where Russian imports, fashion, and style signaled cosmopolitan sophistication among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Russian It HE'S been three different times from Moscow) “Chauve- And bought a Samovar for tea To serve it, 4 la Russe to me. lress she wears with ease, to try Her Grace to please rchoosky” when I sneeze; for me is drearier. i me to a cabaret 1 saniee then away PEARLS JEWELRY SILVERWARE WATCHES CLOCKS n to eat stuff in decay viks around us play; umed cigarettes are smoked sing oe ee ee | INSEPARABLY ae wens ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY I'm growing wearier. s to send across a cable kolinsky, wolf and sable; of nothing else at table ian, Russian—my poor Ma- PURCHASES MAY BE MADE BY MAIL raitor for a lot of junk, FIFTH AVENUE & 37" STREET terroristic bunk, von't cease, I'll pack her NEW YORK tbel it, “SIBERIER.” S.M. P. Capital ier: Now tell us, Johnnie, s the least-used bone in the human body ? JousN1e (promptly): The head! i] How a Man Can Tell If a Woman Loves Him V SW Compiled by a Bachelor After a B R U Ss H iES J Lifetime of Observation A . S Sue loves you tie manded by Master Workmen. Advertised by All 1 . If she flirts with you. as the Best. Methods of Construction Render Ul as a If she pursues you. ec Impossible. ‘ : ; I si eins} Go Biacesd Lacie Q ‘ If she appears indifferent to you. JO/\N L. WHITING-J. J. ADAMS CO., Boston, U. S. A. i If she spurns you. E:csh Manufacturers for Over 113 Yearsand the 4 - poe ‘ If she says she doesn’t. Earnest in the World If she says she does. If she says nothing at all. May (looking at Jones’ newly painted barn): I understand that Jones put most of the paint on him- self, Day: He did. Then he hired Eben Gray to put what was left on the barn. comicbooks.com