Life, 1923-02-08 · page 31 of 36
Life — February 8, 1923 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Left side:** "The Lyric Baedeker Paris" is a humorous poem mocking Parisian taxicabs as reckless, chaotic vehicles driven by operators who ignore traffic laws and regulations ("Johnny Darmes"—likely French traffic police). The satire suggests Paris's taxi culture is dangerous, anarchic, and unpredictable, though oddly charming. The small cartoon below depicts a connoisseur claiming he's spent his life at a woman's feet, revealing he's merely a former ladies' shoemaker—a joke about pretentious social climbing. **Right side:** A full-page advertisement for A·B·A Traveler's Cheques (American Bankers Association), showing multiple scenarios where travelers use these checks globally instead of cash or letters of credit. The ad emphasizes convenience, safety, and government acceptance (notably for U.S. customs duties). This was cutting-edge financial technology for international travel in this era. The page juxtaposes satirical European social commentary with modernizing American financial innovation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Lyric Baedeker Paris HE Taxicabs of Paris Malevolently squeal, They leap around the corner Upon a single wheel; It's up to you to dodge them, For if you dare to fail And get yourself run over, They put you into jail. The ‘axicab of Paris Is ‘uilt for jolts and knocks ; Its sire was a motor, Its dam a drygoods box; It w. n't born for beauty, But just to travel fast; It mey not have a future, Bu: what an awful past! The !axicabs of Paris Ave used to war's alarms; The. laugh at regulations, Tiecy hoot at Johnny Darms. The Johnny Darms may beckon And wave their white-gloved ands,— The Taxicabs of Paris Obey their own commands. The Taxicab of Paris Will rush to any rue Or yare or parc or jardin Or place or avenue— Unless, as sometimes happens, An accident, prevents,— And if you are not careful May charge you twenty cents. Oh, Taxicabs of Paris Careering up and down! You are not painted yellow, Nor black-and-white, nor brown. But though your only motto Is speed without control, The Taxicabs of Paris Go scooting through my soul. —a traveler in Japan is settling a hotel bill with an official travelers’ cheque of the American Bankers Association. —a woman in Paris is buying a hat on Rue de la Paix with an A-B-A Cheque. —here at home a returning traveler is paying a customs official with A-B-A Cheques,—the only travel cheques accepted by the United States Government in payment of duties. —at a roadside garage in California a motorist is using an A-B-A Cheque to buy gasoline. —on an Atlantic liner a passenger is paying the purser with A-B-A Cheques. At this minute, in all parts of the world, A:B-A Cheques are smoothing the financial pathway for many thousands of travelers. A:B-A 2, Cheques —“TRAVEL MONEY” are as handsome as bank-notes, safer than money, more convenient than letters of credit; they identify you the wide world over. With A-B-A Cheques you are in- dependent of banks and banking hours. Sold in compact wallets in denomimattons of $10, $20, $50, and $100 by more than 10,000 banks and trust companies in the United States and Canada. Ask Sor A*B-A Cheques at your bank. The Agent of the American Bankers Association for these Cheques is life at her feet, 1 NEW YORK PARIS | THE CONNOISSEUR “Oh yes indeed, have epee afl my at her feet. I used to be a ladi bootmaker.”” —Le Rire (Paris). comicbooks.com