Life, 1925-11-26 · page 9 of 44
Life — November 26, 1925 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces about Florida and social behavior: 1. **"Gloria Floridae"** - A poem mocking Florida tourism advertising and Southern stereotypes, referencing real estate schemes ("Options here on a hundred acres!") and romanticized imagery of the Old South ("Life was sweet in old Dixieland"). 2. **"The Perfect Suitor"** - A brief satire about a man who impresses dates by making phone calls to important people (radio stations, police chiefs, etc.) to appear powerful and connected—satirizing status-seeking behavior through performative importance. 3. **Bottom cartoon** - A domestic scene where a woman asks if her friend has "gone south," and the punchline reveals she couldn't find her rubbers (galoshes), making a double entendre about traveling to Florida versus losing footwear. The humor relies on the period's casual double meanings.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Florida Booster: WELL, WELL, tell, AND WHAT BRINGS you DOWN TO CORAL GABLES? The Perfect Suitor WHEN he comes to call he makes dad’s radio behave. He adjusts the balky oil burner. He thaws the auto- sbile. He calls up the box office and gets theatre seats hen there aren't any. He calls up the chief of police about dad's speeding ticket. He has no money and no pros- cets but he is the perfect suitor. He knows when to go home. McC. H. WHat was the strangest thing you saw in Florida?” “A touring car with a Florida license plate.” a7 tee y N Gloria Floride * AY down South ‘neath the Mason-Dixon, Where they knew all the arts of mixin’ Orleans fizzes and julep fixin’— Fairest land ever sung by bards “Options here on a hundred acres! Bottom prices to early takers! Bungalows in sight 0’ the Breakers! Get cha Soovernir Postal Cards!” Crinoline gown and high poke bonnet, Long cool glass with the frost upon it, Praised in many a lilting sonnet— Simple, generous, kindly folk. “One-piece bathing suits are allowed here! Swinylots!’ There's never a cloud here! Bus now starting up! Join the crowd heret Red-hot dawgs here an’ ice-col’ Coke!” Ojen cocktails and Bourbon sours; Lovers strolling in vine-clad bowers "Neath magnolia trees and flowers— Life was swect in old Dixieland. ! Buy emt Don't get high-hatty! Miss these chances? Why, you'd be batty! Wot? You're due back in Cincinnati? That's my town, kid; gimme yer hand!” Tip Bliss. Prue: SO HELEN HAS GONE SOUTH? Sue; YES, SHE COULDN'T FIND HER RUBBERS, comicbooks.com