Life, 1923-04-19 · page 33 of 36
Life — April 19, 1923 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page continues a humorous serialized story about an Egyptian archaeological discovery. The narrator describes finding Pharaoh Tout-en-Carmen's tomb filled with anachronistic luxuries—suggesting the ancient Egyptians had Tiffany furniture and used telephones and Mah Jongg. The satire mocks both Egyptian history and contemporary American obsessions with wealth and modernity. The joke peaks when Baline asks how the artist who painted the tomb's interior doorway escaped—revealing the artist was sealed inside, which the narrator matter-of-factly presents as merely "one of the curious customs of those wonderful days." The page is primarily a vehicle for period advertisements (tire flaps, General Cord Tires, Bellans indigestion remedy), typical of *Life* magazine's revenue model. The story itself satirizes both archaeological treasure-hunting fads of the era and the American tendency to project modern consumer culture onto ancient civilizations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
te CT) al Ee BRB ER! B be An Egyptian Episode (Continued from page 12) point of Tout-en-Carmen—I prefer the French form—heing the last of the great Pharaohs. Since when has it been so creditable for a man to come in last? “About us lay an unimaginable splendor of royal furniture, boxes, chairs beds, chariots, tables, vases— it lool das if Tiffany had gone into the a:cique business. All these ob- jects vere of solid gold; you know the rcent finds were only plated. The v >roken walls presented a mass of g:geous picture-writing, not a chapt.’ or paragraph missing, show- ing th King at his various pursuits, cate scarabs, hunting hiero- glyph: playing Mah Jongg, using shone. . .” ...” protested Baline. the telephone. . .the dial too, which we are now re- ing. Some of the passages in it)-no’s life story were in poetry. vas a charming bit showing g playing with his little son, achrino. In Egyptian verse the pictures rhyme in idea; for instance, a bird rhymes with an egg, a bow with an arrow, a chariot with a horse. a crocodile with a black and a with a female figure. It is mple when you get the hang serpent very OO de i Saat Tivesflaps ~ cw Una tixe bills i) OUBER-D Tire Fiaps are giving thousands of motor- ists 2 third more mileage from their tire tubes. The flap forms a long-wearing, soft, ever-pliable, cushion between tube and shoe which absorbs the friction and wear. Inv'st_on a Double-D Tire Flap whenever you have a tire or tube repaired. At the best garayres, tire dealers and acces- sory stores. Made and guaranteed by the largest exclusive tire flap producer in the world. DEXTER RUBBER M’F’G. CO. Goshen, New York Owe EAT) Increase tire mileage with OST advertisements read just as well one tire as another — but the speedometer won’t. Hie ake pies make frien THE GENERAL CORD TIRE BUILT IN AKRON, OHIO BY TH E CENERAL TIRE & RUBBER co of it. There was one particularly lovely scene showing Eks-Ito, the Queen’s mother, being devoured by the royal vultures. “About the sarcophagus stood stat- ues of the tutelar divinities, Psh, Shs, Pst, and Tk, the Big Four of their day. The cover bore an intaglio in ivory of Thothmes, from which I infer that Dimitrino lisped. “The royal coffin was sealed with two massive protocols representing Big and Little Egypt, both in per- fect condition. With me at the time was my embalming expert, the Rev. Dr. Gay of the Gay Burial Parlors. I shall never forget his excitement when the inner casket was opened. Incidentally he presented a curious contrast with the surrounding splen- dor in his black gloves, frock-coat, and high hat.” The fire on my hearth had burned low and Baline shivered slightly. “Just one question before I go,” he said. “You speak of the walls being entirely covered with picture writ: ing. The last blocks which filled in the doorway must have been decor- ated by an artist on the inside. How did he get out?” “He didn’t,” I answered. “That was one of the curious customs of those wonderful days.” See next week's issue. $1000.00 in prizes in the new picture title contest. Sure Relief FOR INDIGESTION “ANS 25¢ ano 75¢ PACKAGES EVERYWHERE, comicbooks.com