Life, 1923-06-28 · page 24 of 37
Life — June 28, 1923 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate humorous pieces from Life magazine. **"The Frozen North"** is a comic narrative mocking romantic notions of Arctic exploration. The narrator, inspired by reading polar exploration books, encounters a fur shop called "Lebel & Moskowitz—Hudson Bay Trappers." He imagines the owners as heroic Arctic adventurers. When he meets Mr. Moskowitz, the disappointment is immediate: Moskowitz is a mundane Bronx fur *dealer*, not an explorer. He's never been to the Arctic, knows nothing about trapping, and casually pivots to selling a "coon coat"—deflating all the narrator's romanticized expectations. The satire targets both the public's glamorization of frontier adventure and the gap between business names and actual operations. **"By Their Dogs Ye Shall Know Them"** is a brief wordplay joke matching character types with dog breeds, likely based on common associations (Prohibition advocates with "water" spaniels, flappers with "Peekin'" knees, etc.). It's light social satire about 1920s American types. The large photograph appears to be an Arctic or polar landscape, supporting the first story's theme.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RCTIC exploration has always had a most tremendous hold on my imagination. I’ve read all the books, even Dr. Cook’s. Perhaps I’m distantly related to Calvin Coolidge. Perhaps in the dim past one of my _ ancestors was an iceman. Whatever it may be, it happened that one day when I was walking up Sixth Avenue I noticed a sign in front of a fur shop which read: LEBEL & MOSKOWITZ Tue Hupson Bay TRAPPERS “Think of it,” I said to myself. “Here, in the heart of a great, throbbing city, LIFE The Frozen North are two intrepid souls who, in the hazardous pursuit of their calling, have battled with the elements in the Land of Eternal Ice! “Death has doubtless reached out his bony hand to clutch them a dozen times but with stout hearts and a small piece of reindeer meat they have urged their tired dogs on and on through the storm until at last, numb and famished, they beheld the wel- come sight of the Post. I will go in and talk with them.” Putting my hand to the door I en- tered. “IT should like to see Mr. Lebel.” I said as a man arose from behind the counter. He was a fat, near- sighted man about fifty years of age, and he wore a black skull-cap. “Mr. Lebel is oudt,” he responded. “Von't I do?—I'm Mr. Moskowitz.” “Mr. Moskowitz,” I cried, grasping his hand, “you will do. I've come in hoping you would tell me something of the Arctic and your experiences there.” le Ar'tic?” responded Mr. Mos- “I doan know nothin’ aboudt de Ar'tic.” “But,” I cried, dismayed, “your sign—what about that? You are a trapper, aren't you?” “Me—a trepper! I esk you!” and Mr. Moskowitz’s shoulders went up. “Nu, I am a fur dealer. I neffer seen = a trep.” British Sportsman: 1 SAY, WHAT A RIPPING PLACE FOR A TENNIS-COURT! “And you've never been in the Frozen North?” I asked. We had a rotten winter in the Bronx—I neffer seen so much snow,” he replied. “Perhaps then—Mr. Lebel—’ “Lebel? Belief me, Lebel doan know practically nothin’ except the book-keeping. Me, I know the fur business.” My dream of romance had dis- solved away into nothingness. I turned toward the door. Mr. Moskowitz’s hand was on my arm. “Say,” he wheedled, “doan you wanna nice coon coat?” eee I've been reading these South Seas books recently. They're great. Rollin Kirby. By Their Dogs Ye Shall Know Them HE Prohibitionist : Water spaniel. The Bootlegger: Scotch terrier. The Aviator: Skye. The Flapper: Peekin’ knees. The Bowler: Poodle. The Trout Fisherman: Whippet. The Politician: Bull. The Longshoreman: Docks hound. The Radio Fan: Airedale. The Prizefighter: Pug. Lassitude SHOULD like to be a fly, To crawl up my window pane, And, perhaps, before I die, To crawl slowly down again. comicbooks.com