Life, 1923-02-22 · page 34 of 36
Life — February 22, 1923 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page consists primarily of advertisements with two humorous pieces interspersed. **"Up in the Air"** is a brief joke about pigeons discussing a "new religion" involving repeating "Coué"—a reference to Émile Coué's popular self-help movement of the 1920s based on autosuggestion and positive affirmations. **"Who Says Women Are Not Witty?"** presents a restaurant conversation where one woman quips that a restaurant allowing babies should charge "corkage" (a fee for outside drinks)—a clever wordplay suggesting babies are as disruptive as alcohol. **"Complex Stenographica"** is the page's main satirical piece, depicting a female office stenographer's internal frustration as her boss dictates unclear correspondence. She resents re-doing work, losing personal time (a boyfriend hasn't asked her out), and judges her rival's appearance and wardrobe. The satire targets both incompetent male management and the stenographer's cattiness. The remainder consists of advertisements for liqueurs, hotels, boats, cigars, and cruises—typical 1920s luxury goods marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Smart Functions is pint ie Ap* lenis Elegante to the Table— World Famed for its Distinctive Excellence Apollinari Sole Imports Apollinaris Ay Co., Fifth Avenue at dnd Street, New York Ba Albemarle Park i Asheville, N.C, A “perfectly charming” En- (i glish Inn, in the glorious Land of the Sky. Southern hospitality, perfect service, concentrated comfort. Open all year. Perfect Golf in a Perfect Climate Write for Booklet “L” Albert H. Malone, Manager Gn America~~ An English Inn Up in the Air Sap the pink-footed Pigeon to his little gray Dove, “I really am feeling quite ill, my love, What would you have me do?” Said the little gray Dove to her pink-footed Pigeon, “Why don’t you go in for the new religion And say ‘Coué, Coué, Coo’?” Who Says Women Are Not Witty? A THIRD person seated at a table in one of the porcelain-plated res- taurants the other day, “listened in” to a conversation between two wom- en friends at the same table. The cry of a small baby had risen above the clatter. One said to the other: “I didn’t know they allowed babies in a place like this.” “Oh, well,” said her friend, smil- ing, “you know they call these places Cafés des Enfants, sometimes.” “Oh, I see,” said the other, “and, I suppose, in the case of a baby they would charge corkage, wouldn’t they?” LIFE Complex Stenographica OW, wouldn't it be nice to take dictation from a fella that knew what he was gonna say! It sure would—but what makes you think so? Not any experience in this office! Just losin’ your speed, that’s all that happens to you here. “Would you mind reading that over, Miss Schulz?” I knew it! His memory’s a inch long. Why don’t he write it out on a little piece of paper and be done with it, and just give it to me to copy? Captain of industry, oh, my God! Yeah! and to think of me losin’ my steady too— The first Satur- day in four months he hasn't asked me for a date. And me with a new pair of ear-rings and a cl-linging gown! “Yessir, I’ve got all that.” “And I regret-er-deeply that under the conditions-er-circumstances we cannot fill the order on the date promised.” Aw, hell! if the competition for Dan was in my class I could bear up. I wouldn’t cry about being run under by a good-looking female. But that little runt he’s taken to here is something fine about it Wo DEMUTHe(o. NEW YC at the smoke shops (7 FOR g MEN @ OF BRAINS OF BRAINS IGARS =MADE AT KEY WEST— SALESMEN WANTED Clark’s 20th [fediterransen Cruise Jane ,27,, by, spectally chartered “Baltic” sults FRANK C. CLARK, TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK ‘Tae Caner PrintiNna Co, Ino. New York BRTHLERRM 23,- hate % SUMMER BORREAUX | Real Vermouth—as made by us during 64 years of wine-making at Bordeaux, France. Just 5 ounces of pure alcohol removed from each bottle for use in this country. French or Italian styles, Demand the Genuine. “Original Recipes” Tells you how! Send for copy. New York Office, 483 West Broadway. Local Dealers Desired [J Sail and Motor BOATS Sturdy Craft at Moderate Prices Inquire About Our Boardman-Hoyt Design Five-meter Racing Knockabout ‘an Our Coupe Automobile Boat with Electric Self-starter Cape Cod Shipbuilding Corp. 18 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. Exhibitors at New York Show ee now! No figure a tall—and her nose, it ain’t never without its shine! “Oh, you want me to cross that letter out and take another one to Mr. Brown. Yessir.” And the clothes she wears! they'd make Pollyanna cuss. Still got her skirts above her ankles, and them the kind it’s a public charity to cover «p. And her family—not Dan's socia equal a tall, him a high-class em- balmer. Gosh! will the old fo-sil ever get through this letter! “Thanking you for your-er-or:! we remain yours very truly.” “Yessir, I'll have them ready three.” Anything for you to get in your golf. My God, what a liie! workin’ for one fool and losin’ « other. This world ain’t no place for women. Get your disillusions early, girls... . “Oh, you want me to write the first letter to Mr. Brown after all. Yessir.” R. P. comicbooks.com