Life, 1923-06-07 · page 41 of 44
Life — June 7, 1923 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Left Side - "Distractions" Poem:** A humorous poem about reading magazines while distracted by food advertisements. The speaker attempts to read serious articles and stories but keeps having their attention diverted by illustrated recipes—puddings, muffins, desserts—appearing adjacent to the text. The joke satirizes magazine layout design: advertisers strategically place appetizing food imagery alongside editorial content, sabotaging readers' concentration. The final line quips that they'll read the articles "after meals" once satisfied. **Right Side - Continental and Commercial Banks Advertisement:** A straightforward banking advertisement (not satire). It boasts the bank's network of 7,450 correspondent banks—approximately one-fourth of all U.S. banks—handling out-of-town business. The ad uses the word "conspiracy" ironically to describe this legal arrangement as facilitating commerce. The sketch shows a grand bank building interior. **Overall:** This page demonstrates Life's mixed format of satirical poetry and commercial advertising, with the poem's theme ironically echoing the ad-driven distractions it critiques.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Distractions I atrempr to read a story in a women’s magazine And I come to where the villain meets his death; I would follow to the finish, but my eager eye is caught By ‘a pudding simply built to take my breath. ] attempt to read an essay on “The Nowness of the When,” And I pride myself on keeping wide awake, But along about the middle I en- counter, face to face, able and festive layer I am all enthusiastic over Mrs. Johnson Jones On “Can Women Run a Town, or Can They Not?” When my eye deserts the issue; on e that now adjoins a plate of tawny muffins, pip- ing hot. I would read about a pattern that appeals to me in style, For my clothes are very sadly out of date, But beside it, done in colors, is a n dessert a little slice of heaven on a In the serials and stories, in the articles on health, Are these pictures with insidi- ous appeals They are appetizers, surely, and I'm overheavy now, So I think that I shall read them after meals! IL. V. Poverty is no crime, but it is n in its punishment. Start the Day with a Glass of pure fruit juice—unfermented wine. —the tonic that will bring sweet- ness and health to all of you. Drink— {pure juice of the logan! diluted with two parts of cold water, FRUIT Delightful to take and wonderful in the health value of its acids and salts. “An Extra Measure Are You Banking With One Of The 7,450? ‘OW many banks are there in the United States? Approximately 30,000. How many of these banks deal directly with the Continental and Commercial Banks in handling out-of-town business for their customers ? Approximately 7,450, or one-fourth of all the banks in the United States. If you are dealing with any one of our bank correspondents or 7,450 direct banking con- nections, you are receiving indirectly some of our financial service. Likewise our customers receive a part of the service of the 7,450 banks, —as much as each needs. This arrangement is a lawful “conspiracy” to facilitate business and perform a valuable public service. The CONTINENTAL and COMMERCIAL BANKS CHICAGO Resources more than $500,000,000 comicbooks.com