Life, 1923-10-25 · page 24 of 34
Life — October 25, 1923 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical sketches mocking early 20th-century American social pretensions and racial attitudes. **"The New-Voes Have Discovered Their Ancestors"** ridicules newly wealthy families (the "New-Voes," likely "nouveau riche") who hire genealogists to fabricate aristocratic lineages. The joke: they design their own elaborate coat of arms with diamonds and emeralds, oblivious that their invented ancestors couldn't appreciate it. It satirizes social climbing and manufactured respectability among the newly rich. **"Eggs à la Oklahoma"** contains a racial slur in its punchline, using "Ku-Klux" as a restaurant kitchen order for a blindfolded egg—a tasteless reference to the KKK that reflects the magazine's casual racism. The other sketches joke about theatrical complaints, a waiter's dialogue about a mule, and a diva's vanity about stage lighting. The racial caricatures and slurs throughout reflect Life magazine's period attitudes, now deeply offensive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Bystander: The New-Voes Have Discovered Their Ancestors THE New-Voes have discovered their ancestors. At least, they've hired some one who says that he has. And they insist upon telling you the whole history of the family. Of course, the whole history goes back several gen- erations. But it’s all so interesting. And so full of romance. It sounds just like a fairy story. Although it’s very much more beautiful. And many times more wonderful. All their ancestors were such nice people. And so delightfully simple. In fact, much simpler than the New-Voes. And they lived simply, too. And did simple things. So now the New-Voes have a crest. And a very magnificent crest it is. Diamonds rampant on a field of sapphires, set off by rubies and emeralds! They designed it themselves. It’s a pity their ancestors can’t see it. Anyway, they’ve discovered them. At least, they’ve hired some one who says that he has. cC.G. S. Eggs a la Oklahoma HE veteran waiter industriously polished the counter while the breakfast patron examined the bill of fare. “Bring me some hot cakes and one egg, blindfolded,” was the order. Turning on his heel, the waiter lifted his voice in the direction of the kitchen. “Stack o’ wheats and Ku-Klux one egg!” he bellowed. WHAT'S THE ANIMAL'S NAME, RASTUS? “EMMA, SAH—NAMED AFTER MAH WIFE.” The Dinner Menu As It Looks to a Dyspeptic Too Proud to Quit HE theatre manager after a week of a highbrow produc:ion consulted the colored doorman. “Well, George, how is it going ” “Better and better, sah! F and fewer is leaving the th before the end of the show.” HERE there's smoke there's somebody with a pull at coal dealer's. UNSPOKEN LINES Prima Donna (to impresario): You MUST SPEAK TO THAT ELECTRICIAN; HE DOES NOTHING BUT PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON ME ALL THE TIME. comicbooks.com