Life, 1925-03-12 · page 11 of 40
Life — March 12, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces: 1. **"Saving the Day"** (poem by James K. McGuinness): A humorous verse about an Irish immigrant's assimilation, referencing contemporary ethnic shops (Israel Costume Mart, Napoli Grocery) and entertainment (Rastus Lee Jazzers—a racist minstrel reference). It satirizes the cosmopolitan urban experience circa 1920s. 2. **"It Seems There Were Two Irishmen"** (cartoon): A captioned illustration showing an after-dinner speech scenario where a character named Daniel translates mysterious wall handwriting, apparently revealing an Irish joke's punchline. The humor relies on ethnic stereotyping common to the period. 3. **"Life's Encyclopedia" (Saxophone entry)**: A brief informational piece, with an unrelated cartoon showing a woman preparing to sneeze, captioned "Please stand by, God—I think I am going to sneeze." The page exemplifies Life's satirical humor targeting immigrant communities and ethnic groups.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Saving the Day \With a billycock hat and a black- thorn stick From the Israel Costume Mart, Was there ever a lad as fine as Mick, As the twenty-eight counties start? Will you mark how he looks astride his steed From the Napoli Grocery Co.? 1! { Troth! A broth of a lad he is, indeed, i When the Deutsches Band trumpets od “7 IT S2<emMs blow. He'll be drowning the shamrock in fine THe Ke WERE old stuff A bootlegging Pole distilled. : TWH? (And he may catch a glimpse, if he drowns enough, Of the snakes that St. Patrick killed.) He'll be dancing the colleens to bliss to-night While the Rastus Lee Jazzers play, And he'll drop in at dawn for a last wet mite In the Romanoff cabaret James K, McGuinness. Use Your Own Judgment INAL words of warning to income tax-payers: Remember that the Government has put you on your honor to make out your statements truthfully; remember also that those who constitute the Government took solemn oaths of office which they are pledged to fulfill and don’t do anything they wouldn't do. THE FIRST AFTER-DINNER SPEECH BELSHAZZAR'S GUESTS ARE CONVULSED WHEN DANIEL TRANSLATES THE HAND- WRITING ON THE WALL, Lirt’s Encyclopedia AXOPHONE—A_ musical _ instru- ment with a single reed and clarinet mouth. During the open season on Christians in early Rome the saxophone was used, principally, to arouse the lions to a proper attitude towards the sacri- fice. Latterly, however, saxophones have been much in vogue at cabarets and restaurants and are employed to conceal the anguished cries of the cus- tomers who have received their checks. TRANGER: What's everybody looking up in the air for? Vittacer: Well, anything might hap- “PLEASE STAND BY, GUD—1 THINK I AM GOING TO SNEEZE.” pen nowadays. comicbooks.com