Life, 1925-11-12 · page 27 of 41
Life — November 12, 1925 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from Life magazine (appears to be 1920s-era based on references). **"The Good Genie and the Modern Young Man"** mocks wealth and desire through a fairy-tale framework. A young man with Florida real estate wishes for a million dollars, then a "Broadway Butterfly" (a glamorous showgirl/flapper). His final wish—to see a Congressional Investigation that "amounted to anything"—causes the genie to flee and the lamp to explode. The satire: Congressional investigations were so notoriously ineffective and corrupt that even magic cannot produce one. The moral warns against pushing luck too far. **"The Proof of the Pudding"** shows a maid who washed only the *inside* of windows, reasoning that's the part you see. It's a joke about lazy shortcuts and faulty logic. **"Not the One He Knew"** is a brief joke implying a man has two wives without knowing it—calling him a "bigamist" unknowingly. The cartoons reflect 1920s cynicism about government effectiveness, consumer culture, and domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Good Genie and the Modem Young Man ONE there was a Modern Young Man who sat Glooming over what kind of World this is in which Alli- gator Pear Salad can be classed as an Edible, when a Good Genie appeared before him. “Kid,” said the Genie, “rub this Lamp and pick three Wishes.” "Rub the Back of my Neck,” said e Young Man, “and go Roll your I should Spoof a Wise Bimbo like .” remarked the Genie. “This Prop- jon is on the Level. Pipe this wad of References from President J. P. Aladdin of the International Lamp, Oil & Wick Co.” Well, the Young Man was a Sport, as witnessed by the Fact that he owned Titles to most of the Florida Ever- . so he Fetched the Lamp a Belt and said: “All right, give mea Million Dollars.” And, lo and behold! One Million Berries lay in front of him. “Pick up the Marbles,” the Genie or- dered, “and don't try to Stall that you said Billion instead of Million, because I was listening. Sock her again.” So the Young Man Hoisted the Lamp a Right Uppercut and said: “Fetch me a Broadway Butterfly who is as Good and Guileléss and Beautiful as the Tabloids make her out to be.” And before you could call the Head Waiter in a Night Club, there stood a “WHY, BRIDGET, DID YOU wash THESE WINDOWS?" “YES'M, BUT I ONLY WASHED THE INSIDES—THAT'S THE PART YOU LOOK AT, AIN'T 17?” Blonde Cutie with Credentials from Will Hays and Rev. Straton and all the other Morality Mongers. “Well,” said the Young Man, “this is THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING certainly a New One on Papa. Do I get another one or is there a Time Limit on this Pipe Dream?” “Go to it, Oswald,” said the Genie, encouragingly. The Young Man thought long and earnestly until suddenly an Idea hit him right between the Glims. Where- upon he Booted the Lamp and said: “K. O., Steve. Now, as my last Wish I want you to show me” (and here the Genie trembled, for he had a Vague Notion a Wallop was coming)— “show me a Congressional Investigation that ever Amounted to Anything.” But at this Point the Lamp Blew Up with a Bang and the Genie rushed forth and Jumped Off the most con- venient Dock. Morat: Never run your Luck into the Ground. Tip Bliss. Not the One He Knew ILLIS: Have you met my beau- tiful wife yet? Guus: No. I didn't know you were a bigamist. comicbooks.com