Life, 1925-06-11 · page 7 of 36
Life — June 11, 1925 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a humorous letter from Rome titled "The Hundred Per Center Abroad," mocking American tourists abroad who insist on American standards while traveling. The writer complains about encountering other Americans demanding English speakers, calling themselves "Centrevillians," and generally refusing to adapt to local culture. The top illustration depicts an American tourist with a donkey and luggage approaching what appears to be an Italian dental office, satirizing the stereotype of Americans abroad who remain fixated on American conveniences even in foreign lands. The lower illustration shows what's labeled "a Master's bedroom," likely mocking European accommodations that Americans found inadequate. The satire targets American cultural insularity and the expectation that the world should accommodate American preferences rather than travelers adapting to local customs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Hundred Per Center Abroad Kome, It. EAR Jerr: Well, Jeff, this is the first time I've had a chance to write to you since we come over to all these trick countries, I been so busy running around and try- ing to find something that comes up to the lvl ole U. S. A. and, as you prob- bly guess, “it can’t be did.” The only fun I have is writing “U. S. A.” on the hotel registers after my name and then watching the clerks turn green with cavy. I got an American flag in my coat lapel, and all these foreigners are so jealous of me they steer clear of me as much as possible. The “little woman” has been lugg me around to a lot of picture galleri but they can’t touch the Art Museum at Centreville. They got more paintings, of course, but most of them ain't near so big as the one Louella Blake done of the Fair Grounds in Winter, and they ain't any of them so bright. I keep “selling Centreville” all the time, like ard of Trade told us all to do, he people I been boosting it to come out there to live, I guess you and me won't have any trouble getting rid of those lots of ours on the Meadow- srook Extension. Ha, ha! They call Paris the “la belle gay city,” but I ask you, Jeff, how can a fellow be gay when they is nothing but | ' \ | | | Agent: AXD THIS IS A Mrs. H. Peck: YOUNG MAN, THAT ALL DE NOUN AN’ TELL DE DENTIS’ MISTAH RANDOLF'S PUTTIN’ HIS CASE \'S OF PROVIDENCE. a lot of crazy frogs around who can't talk English? A lot of us got intro- duced to the Prime Minister, only they call him the Premium, and I started to “sell Centreville” to him, but some fel- lows back in the line shoved me out of the way. Ill bet if I could have got through my “spiel” he'd of fallen for it and come out there to live. And this place I am at now, Jeff. is worst than any of them, This is the ternal city” because it eternally stands still, When I told them the popula- tion of Centreville had nearly doubled MASTER'S BEDROOM, S$ ON WHICH OF US SLEEPS IN IT. MP'LL BE IN SOON AS FLY “BENTIS TEETHS ATRAC Ke “SExy IN. DE SEASON STAHTS.” in the last twenty years, their eyes just bugged open. The population of Rome ain't doubled since B. C., I bet. They got a Premium here, too, named Mausoleum, but the soldiers won't let you get nowhere near him, because 1 guess they are scared if they let him loese he would come over to the li'l ole U.S. A. and make more money running a hand organ than he can here running the whole govt. They say he's a pretty good fellow, though, so I guess I could make a good Centrevillian out of him if I could only get at him. Well, I've got to stop now, Jeff, and the “Mrs.” is taking me to the Tower of Pisa. I scen a picture-postcard of it and it’s just like everything else here, all cockeyed. I got a picture of our R. monument in my trunk and I'm going to nail it on the tower to show them how Centreville does things. “Don't do anything I wouldn't do.” Sam. (Per Tip Bliss.) Economical Short Story ICH girl. Motor car. Lonely road. Breakdown. Ruffian. Scream. Poor boy. Rescue. Swoon. Love. Elope- ment. End. Net saving—6,804 words. OPHOMORE: 1 thought you weren't coming back to college next term, Junior: I know, but a few weeks ago I heard Father say there was a fine opening in the business. comicbooks.com