Life, 1924-06-12 · page 42 of 44
Life — June 12, 1924 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a humorous dialect piece mocking working-class New York immigrant speech patterns—likely Italian and Eastern European immigrants. The dialogue depicts two men ("Hairy" and "Gus") using exaggerated phonetic misspellings and malapropisms ("bong voyage," "thassa goo diecar," "raspectibil") while discussing French postcards. The satire targets both the immigrants' accented English and American attitudes toward European culture. The joke relies on stereotyping: the characters butcher language while obsessing over "French postcards" (a period euphemism for risqué images), suggesting crude materialism and sexual preoccupation. This reflects 1920s attitudes viewing working-class immigrants as objects of ridicule—their speech patterns inherently amusing to educated readers. The piece is representative of Life magazine's satirical approach to immigration and assimilation during this era, though modern readers would recognize it primarily as ethnic caricature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
. Are you self-conscious about the impression you make on people? ZAR is probably the greatest handi- cap ai can have in life. It keeps you fr ‘our own real self ight best and 1 eas you should. Personal appearance has’a lot to do with the way you feel, Clothes count, But still there is one th erlook—somethii them as either the lect today how you, yourself, watch another person's teeth when he of she is talking. If the tecth are not well kept they at once be a liability Listerine Tooth Paste cleans teeth a new way. At last our chemists have discovered a polishing ingredient thet really cleans without scratching the enamel—a_ difficult problem—hnally solved. And you know if i makers of Listerine, the s found for you alvy the really AMBERT PHAKMACAL CO..3 LISTERINE TOOTH PASTE Large Tube—25 cents Words, Words, Words delete at, , pod, emu, loath, effete Reeve, nitro, digit, tat He uses words like He speaks of tyro, slake and glut, Of scraggy, primate, scar He's not a linguist; he is bu A cross-word puzzle fan. AHI Howarp: In classic days woman's charms were revealed Jay: That was the pre-veiling style Ir Tilden takes up professional ten- nis Tex Rickard will doubtless adver- tise him as the Wild Bill of the Papers. ske of the blade. Th low in price. From dealer of facto The new 1925 lestrated. It colors, Write f OLD TOWN CANOE 1437 Middle Street, Old Town, Maine, * ILNRE << Lessons in New Yorkese “Bong Voyarge” “Wea gabye Hairy. Bong voyarge.” “Well gabye Gus.” Chatryta geffunny an semme enny em French post Say thassa goo di swattal do. “Noyadont now Hairy. y. Sawrite fay italla wilewimmin tuff daggo inna goo dk Sdiffint.” “Yeah Isay at kinastuff da States, But jussasame senya alotta rehhot French postearts. Nawyadont now neetha Hairy. w whynot ?" “Bacaws Ida likem thasswy. They- yaint raspectibil thasswy.” “Aw theyyaint no homminnem. Juss kina funny.” “Naw theyyaint’ funny and Ida wancha ta scnnem tamme. Yagemme doncha Hairy? Ida wannem cummin le immyname. Idawanna seem.” Gus Idint knowya felt likeat aboutit. Theyaint rec ” “Sfar zime casoined theyis. Iwancha homminner now taprawmiss smee onya solim moat yawont semme enny.” write ten omme yoat—me solim Nunnanem French postearts.” “Nunnanem postearts.” “Sawrite fayou ovata Pairiss annalla Frawgs buhtwee Yamairicins is di Them postearts aint raspectibil tha Well maybe t Well Idaw Well awrite Gus.” “Well Iguessa gotta beatit now Hai Salong Datakenny weedin munn “Salong Gus.” aylissen Hairy.” “Whattisit Gus?” “Fya semme ennya nem Fret postearts, be up wil ¢ an puttem inna sealed Books Received Grenoble and Thereabouts, by Henri Ferrand (The Medici Society, Ltd.) by Floyd Dell (Knopf) t Herrick (Harcourt, Brace), the Mountains, by Rosita and the Car Wi by lor. (Knopf ry of Relativity, by Gare (Edwin) Miles’ Fadman, amer! by Fulton Oursler Fantomas, by Pierre Sou- reel Allain (Macatlay) Never Fire First, by James French Dorrance (Macaulay). ny by Frederick Arnold Kummer (Dor- (Boni & Liveright). Albert Phil- Fauset t) by Edgar Lee Masters (Boni eright). . by HH. H. Powers (Macmillan). and the People, by Leonard L. rican Assn. of Independent The Whole World with its glittering bubbles—its fresh effervescence and its friendly cheer. “The Queen of Table Waters” Sole Importers: Apollinaris Agency Co., Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York ) UNDERSTAND THAT Yor MICAL, HENRY? IT SEEMS TO ‘A DOZEN RACQUETS FOR ONE S “WELL, YOU SER, S WAY, DAD. 1 STEEL & WAND THAT MEANS ONE RACQUE ‘Made exactiy like EToneof these little beauties cs Fer, back fies the'lid showing a full package of [our piearettes Lots of fun scart PATHFINDER COMPANY ne ‘324 Sixth Avenue New Yor comicbooks.com