Life, 1924-11-13 · page 13 of 42
Life — November 13, 1924 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a humorous satire of college traditions by presenting absurd "college yells"—rhythmic chants that were popular at American universities in the early 20th century. The satire mocks these yells by replacing typical athletic cheers with nonsensical or darkly comic phrases ("Buttermilk and bones!" "Sock-a-noodle-doo!"). Each yell is accompanied by small comic illustrations showing ridiculous scenarios. The humor targets the blind conformity and arbitrary traditions of college culture—suggesting that students enthusiastically shout meaningless things simply because it's tradition. The increasingly absurd content (references to infidelity, explosions, cigarettes) escalates the satire, implying college yells have no inherent logic or value beyond peer pressure and institutional habit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFR : LLL ..rK.x2_aQQr BALLAD IN THE COLLEGE YELL MANNER frank and helen were wed at last and Hlived happily ever after Lalmost up to the time | of the divorce Rah! Rah! Rah! Buttermilk and bones! Rattle up the back fence! Look at Willie Jones! fonate Sldse breomed hit. | trashy remains down | the front steps and so} C on into the twilight Roh! Rah! Rah! Sock-a-noodle-doo! Talcum on a tadpole! Who the heck are you? ladecez » an genlmn! Rah! Rah! Rah! Applesauce and socks! icker shirts and soup seeds! Hems and haws and hocks! came the dawn and if the orb of day didn't paint the awakenin, hills with purple gold taupe and spud tan _ SOAP ny loved my loved bellowed kathioen We foul my life my all my entirety my ie or whet have You Rah! Rah! Rah! Chickadees and sneers! Angels every seven feet! Darling, dry your tears! ‘> Rah! Rah! Roh! Whillletrees and sand! Mama, Gracie’s gonna sing! Ain't the gravy grand! oh said the janitress with 3 Slight catch a in her voice as she 8athered up the smooth green young worms Rah! Rah! Rah! Coming ‘round the bend! Caviar and_battleboats! Try the other end! back you hi henry ] shrilled bertha the beautiful blacksmith a$ She loosed the ragiag animal vpon him Wigoreets) fears ana tabaccer looks to me like some dirty work were afoot Said the scavenger as he stepped out of one bucket into another | Rah! Rah! Rah! Whiskers on a clam! Ankles on a slip-horn! We should care a slam! 3, milton milton cried 8} little nell clinging to his Comparatively manl five feet two and 3 hal whats the big idea Rah! Rah! Rah! Bums and alphabets! Wedding bells and bad words! Sleet and cigarets! booocoom rang out an awfully good explosion somewhere o to the sou’sou'west = J watch his cigar wheezed mildred to the pursuers just as the dang ‘thing exploded Rah! Rah! Rah! Gadgets on a goose! Sip a_sack of spapruos! Let that woman loose! Rah! Rah! Rah! Wrinkles on a wren! Roses on a gnat’s hat! Ovt where men are men! Sir I'd have you know] Tm not that kind of a | ! Rah! Boil a bale of bats! Crocodiles and gee-strings! Kick ‘em in the slats! not another word purred the proud beauty clutching her to him fiercely not another ‘word shut up Rah! Rah! Rah! Radio and rust! Isn’t she the fat — My God! The dam has bust! comicbooks.com