Life, 1924-06-12 · page 14 of 44
Life — June 12, 1924 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces: **"Impersonally Conducted"** mocks Vatican tours by depicting a clerk mechanically processing tourists visiting the Pope ("His Holiness"). The humor lies in the bureaucratic, transactional tone applied to a supposedly sacred religious experience—tourists are treated like customers at a travel agency rather than pilgrims. **"Movie Maxims"** offers cynical observations about film industry storytelling, noting that soft-focus cinematography and pretty actresses can distract audiences from recognizing shallow narratives as lacking intelligence. The bottom cartoon, "How the Travel Craze Started," satirizes the sudden popularity of European tourism among Americans, suggesting this fad originated somewhat arbitrarily—Assyrians supposedly started it simply because their birthplace was "arid and dry." Together, these pieces critique commercialization of culture and the superficiality of modern tourism and entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sweet Youne Ture ( ): Can you give me the name 1 lawyer in Pa s office will furnish and an e nate of the pro! We are advised divorces ha advanced about ten per cent. in price. Sweet Youn HING (indignantly) Those horrible French profiteers! Former Service Man: Say, buddy; I'm leaving this gang in Par 1 go. ing on my own, Could you tell me if the Lion d'Or is still doing business in Bar-le-Duc Cuerk: Dunno; say, what outfit were you with? ser Sexvice MAN: Fifty-second Pioneers Cierk: When you get there look up the Sacré Chien and see if Ma still there, will you? Tell her Tommy was asking for her. She'll remember. 1 was with the Sixty-ninth, Former Service Man: Sure thir see you when I get back Creek (musing): We if Maric is still there. Maybe one of these days I'll take one of these tours myself ought to get a rate. James K. McGu Movie Maxims SOFT custard turneth away the crowds One moron with violet eyes will draw bigger houses than six actresses with genius, for it taketh intelligence to nize genius but any boob.can get a thrill out of eyes, your story to the intelligence of Kadio Bug: WAT A BULLY PLACE TO STRING AN AERIAL! ‘i ice—and don't forget that many mothers brit r babies along Impersonally Conducted Hokum: The passionate heroine refusing to elope with (Listening in on a Foreign Tours’ the villain because her che-ild has measles, INCERE LITTLE BODY: Will there be an audience Art: The same thing—played in a set that cost fifty with the Pope on this tour? vusand dollars, Tue Curnk: If His Holiness is s when you visit the Vatican, it will probably be arranged, madam, Sincere Littur Bony (seorric I really shouldn't zo, then; I think our ministers would disapprove. (Con y.) I'ma Presbyt ERK (soothingly): You way from the audi ; and we shan’t let His Holiness know, so he won't be offended Sixcree Littie Bopy (relieved) : That's so kind of you; thank you so much BrusoUr, Burty Person (abruptly): What's Scotch in ence, mai Average grades, from three-seventy HOW THE TRAVEL CRAZE STARTED five to four a quart ad ND THE ASSYRIANS ENTERED INTO THE MOIST VALLEY OF Brusgur, Bury Person (disgustedly) : Hum! Almost as THE EUPHRATES, LEAVING THE HILL COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH cheap at home. BECAUSE IT WAS ARID AND DRY.” comicbooks.com