Life, 1923-12-27 · page 3 of 37
Life — December 27, 1923 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary and a single cartoon. The top section includes brief observations on contemporary topics: New Year's Eve celebrations, the "Americanization of China," chancellors in Germany, the Democratic Party's potential modification of the Eighteenth Amendment, and American currency's stability. The cartoon depicts a mother scolding a young boy outdoors, with dialogue establishing a domestic morality lesson. The mother asks why the boy stuck his tongue out at "that little boy," and he responds he was "teaching him a lesson in politeness." The satire here is straightforward: the child's rude behavior contradicts his claimed educational purpose—a commentary on hypocritical moral instruction or the absurdity of teaching manners through impolite means. The humor relies on the child's innocent yet obviously flawed logic.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Live N! W YEAR'S EVE will not be observed this year as of old, there being little left to celebrate with and scarcely anything to celebrate. JL Motto for the modern critic: I come to raspberry Ceasar, not to praise him. +L Six bandits in Shanghai recently held up a bank messenger and escaped with more than $500,000 worth of negotiable securities. rhe Americanization of China is almost complete. Ae The well-informed man can no longer he expected to know who is Chancellor Germany. It is all he can do to remember the names of the latest heauty prizewinners. aL li is rumored that the Democratic arty is inclined to modify the eigh- teenth amendment in favor of beer. lhey are looking for the hoppy me- The Undiscovered O* Englishmen I know a lot Who never say, “Right-o! Ey, wot?” And Frenchmen sometimes talk to me, Who answer, “Yes,” and not, “Oui! Oui!” I've met New Yorkers, unalloyed, Who never once pronounce it “boid.” Miraculous, I must confess, But still some Yanks won't guess.” And others, sans scholastic taint, Avoid that strange locution, “ain't.” say, “I But never statesman, far or near, I've heard, who does not “view with fear”; Nor orator with vision wide Who fails, in speech, to “point bride; JKOM. with Money talks, but the American dollar is about the only species that has man- aged to retain full possession of its vocal cords. 'HE movie about Mah Jong, which is now being produced, will prob- ably be called “The Covered Dragon.” aL An engineer has’ announced that the White House isn’t safe. Meaning, of course, that it isn’t safe for democracy. IL “Thieves Will be Tracked by Radio,” shrieks a headline—but before the thing can be done efficiently, the Police De- partment will have to announce the cor- rect crime wave length. aL The alacrity with which presidential candidates take the field presages good times for publishers of memoirs. aL About the only prominent hat that has not found its way into the ring thus far is the Kentucky derby. JL Now is the time to send New Year's cards to the friends who unexpectedly remembered you at Christmas. Mother; wuy pip YOU STICK YOUR TONGUE OUT AT THAT LITTLE BOY? Betty: TO TEACH HIM A LESSON IN POLITENESS. comicbooks.com