Life, 1924-03-20 · page 37 of 42
Life — March 20, 1924 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes how working-class New Yorkers spoke in the early 20th century. The left column presents a dialogue heavy with dropped consonants, slurred words, and distinctive accent markers ("Cha madeoff," "Whattayamean," "Cmawn split"). The accompanying illustration shows a man in business attire, suggesting the satire targets white-collar workers adopting or maintaining rough street vernacular. The humor comes from the contrast between supposed "big business" dealings and crude, barely-intelligible speech. Phrases like "Yagottany tips?" and "Sgoinnup" parody New York's distinctive accent and grammar patterns of the era—a common target of national humor magazines that treated regional dialects as inherently comic. The page is otherwise filled with period advertisements (Colt firearms, Bellans antacid, dandruff remedy), typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
33 LIFE Lessons in New Yorkese Big Business “ON LOOKA 2 jail ! Cha madeoff witha cum | yroll yet?” ff t biganuff. Say Hairy ya awi gottany tips Whattayame Ho mn aspairagis tips "Youknowwhattamean, Tips sonny rkit, Yagottany Maybe. Y “Whosez Lya FI gi nis preppasition. Gemme “Yougotta noive. Was “Nassaloud fgossakes. Yawan alla tany int W anny tips, i sit toya?” fitty biz hunh tha Street innonis “Cmawn spi Nevva mina Street Wellawr Ani Watterl nnyerl. Sgoinnup.” now, Lyaint nup.” gus. Smusbe some Ennyerl pittikala erl, Allaerls onnamarkit taint goinnup.” “Yesse Sbig boom: Lissengus, thattaint sensabil, Alla- | rl onna markit woggowup tawunst.” “Stwill foo. Smerja.” Whyncha s skinda attit offa fella "Oh smerja iss inna foisplace? Smerja nt “Yeah sbig merja. 1 whagottit offa fella whaknows boom. Yaw gettinnonnit.” Sure Way to Get Rid of Dandruff There is one sure way that never fails to remove dandruff completely and that is to dissolve it, Then you destroy it entirely. To do this, just get about four ounce: plain, ordinary liquid arvon; apply it at night when retiring; use enough to moisten the scalp and rub it in gently with the finger tips. By morning, most, if not all, of your dandruff will be g 1 twoor three more applications will completely dissolveand en- tirely destroy every single sign and trace of it, no matter how much dandruff you may have. You will find, too, that all itching of the scalp will stop instantly, and your hair will Le lustrous, glossy, silky and soft, and look and feel a hundred times better. You can get liquid arvon at any drug store and four ounces is all you willneed. This simple remedy has never been known to fail. The R. L. Watkins Co., Cleveland, O. .w PROTELC TION ECAUSE Colt’s Fire Arms have always been safest to handle and carry —be- cause they get into action quickest when quickness is vital — because their fire is sure and accurate—they have won Government and Police endorsement for nigh on a century Protection is only complete when all these qual- ities are present; so make sure of Colt security for your home by possessing a revolver or auto- matic pistol bearing this time-honored name. Ask your Hardware or Sporting Goods dealer to show you his full line of Colt’s fire arms. They're reasonably priced. Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. Hartford, Conn. Pacific Coast Representative Phil. B. Bekeart Co., 717 Market St., San Francisco, Calif. Catalogue ? Of course. Went it? 9, OLTS THE ARM OF LAW AND ORDER Sure Relief “Idlika takea chanst. Bute —whaggo zups gotta cumdow aint nobull. Buchawan sport. Sgoinnup, Itellya.” “Yeah? Welllthink Ithinkitova.” “Yeah you thinkitova.” Sgood dope aintit? in ennyerl sounds kinafoney.” AintI tolya smerja “Ohwell fit: smerja right. Illtakea chanst.” “Attastuff! Seeya witha winnins CNG io 6 BELLANS >| Hot water Lge, = Sure Relief Gus. Anyerlsa good buy.” 25¢ AND 75¢ PACKAGES EVERYWHERE H.W.H comicbooks.com