Life, 1925-02-05 · page 7 of 36
Life — February 5, 1925 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate humorous pieces satirizing early 20th-century American social life. "The Obvious Advantage" cartoon jokes about censorship of Valentine's Day cards—two men discuss buying "snappy stuff" that will pass the censor's review, implying romantic cards were being censored or heavily monitored for propriety. "The Return of the Native" presents dialogue from someone recently returned from the South, using exaggerated dialect to mock both Southern speech patterns and the speaker's enthusiasm for regional culture and leisure activities like hunting and fishing. The top sketch depicts what appears to be an artist's studio or salon setting with multiple figures, though its specific satirical target is unclear from the visible text. Overall, the page reflects contemporary anxieties about morality enforcement and cultural regionalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“YEAH—i KNOW THE TUNE YOU MEAN NOW. IT’S ON THE BACK OF ‘HOW COME You PO ME LIKE You po,’” The Obvious Advantage 'ABLE—Once upon a time a man en- The Return of the Native So you and your brother tered a large department store to M® JONES (on a trip South): vins? buy three specific objects, and, not find- +..yeh, but you Southern guys Susie: Yes, that's what we are. ing exactly what he wanted, departed oughta see the Big Time just once, Which one says the prayers?” without making a purchase. see, if you wanna know speed. Pep and go, brother, what I mean! Take N'Yawk, where I just came from— - white lights, music, dancing — always PSSST— SAY, YOUNG something doing—no, it’s like I says to FELLOW, WANT/A the missus, “You can have all the BUY A COUPLE OF Dixie you want,” I says, “but gimme VALENTINES ? é I'l old Broadway every time...” REAL SNe (Two weeks elapse.) Mk. Jones (to fellow-clubmen) : ...but, boys, Ah simply cain’t tell you- all what a swell time Ah haid da-own Sa-outh yonder. Huntin’ an’ fishin’, sah —nothin’ to do but jes’ lie 'roun’-lahk It's lahk Ah say-d to Mis’ Jones, “Ma'am,” Ah say-d, “you-all kin take you’ No'thern folks,” Ah say-d, “but give me mah li'l ol’ Dixie ev'ry tahm....” C,H. F. 'HE best and cheapest way to get to California seems to be to win a WHEN THE CENSORS GET AROUND TO VALENTINES heauty contest. comicbooks.com