Life, 1926-01-07 · page 24 of 40
Life — January 7, 1926 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor typical of 1920s Life magazine: **"An Amicable Settlement"**: Two motorists in a car accident both claim to lack insurance—a joke about widespread uninsured driving and dishonesty. **"Criminal Diary"**: A sharp satire on the "Chicago School of Alienists' Defense"—a reference to psychological defenses used in actual criminal trials of the era. The humor lies in absurdly attributing heinous crimes (killing 6,000 policemen) to various "delusions" (mistaking fire trucks for KKK parades, confusing democracy with poverty). This mocks how emerging psychological jurisprudence was allegedly being exploited as legal excuses. **Ford comparison poem**: A 1919 Ford model addresses the newer 1926 model, boasting that despite the newer car's luxury styling, the older model still outperforms it—nostalgia mixed with class commentary. **"All in the Air"**: Science fiction humor set on interplanetary mail routes, playing with futuristic scenarios treated mundanely. **"In Boomland"**: A real-estate joke about rapid property speculation during the 1920s boom.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: ERE: AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT First Motorist: 1’m rutty insure! Second Motorist: me, Too! Criminal Diary (According to the Chicago School of Alienists’ Defense) 9:05 —Awakened by passage of fire-trucks to nearby conflagration; followed them chanting passages from the Talmud, under the delusion they were a Ku Klux Klan parade. 10:35—Apartment owner called for rent. Paid him for year in advance, under the delusion that he needed it. 12:30—Feeling hungry, went down to a nearby cafeteria, although I had seven thousand dollars in cash on my per- son, under the delusion this was a democracy. 1:30—Spent several hours in the Public Library. Read through the Bible six times, but was unable to reconcile it with Nietzsche. Sat meditating considerably longer, under the delusion that I was thinking. Passing down the Library steps, helped to her feet a lady who had stumbled. Was unable to answer her question as to what I was doing * that evening, not having made any plans. 7:25—Stole uniform from intoxicated policeman, under delusion that there was a crime wave. Trampled fifteen people underfoot, under the delusion I was a taxi. 9:15—Bought a tabloid daily under the delusion that I should read it and be well informed. Read forty-three stories of current murders, under the delusion that they were an expression of the modern trend. Being all for progress, killed six thousand policemen as my share in it. Suddenly became conscious of my mistake, and walked swiftly to the nearest station-house, giving myself up to the law, under the delusion that I should receive my just punishment. Wayne G. Haisley. In Boomland ISITOR: I understand you own this lot. Froriwwtan: I did for ten minutes this morning. A 1919 Ford Speaks to the New 1926 Ford Model IE. we should meet on the highest hill, Brother o’ mine—O brother o’ mine, I'd know the sound of your engine still, Brother o' mine—O brother o’ mine. Your new low lines are of Rolls-Royce style And your color has changed from black to Nile— Yet you can not beat me a single mile— Brother o’ mine—O brother o' mine! L. H. Hayum, All in the Air Br turned off the motor of his mail plane, the speedy air boat plying between Jupiter and Venus, and started the helicopters as he drifted into the air siding, to wait for the plane that followed the path from Mars to Mercury. “Wonder who's runnin’ the old M. and M. now?” Bill said to himself. He glanced up and saw the other craft approaching. It nosed in beside his ship, and the alternate white and green lights indicated there was parcel-post matter to be taken aboard. Bill adjusted his helmet, took a pull at the oxygen tank and leaned out. ; “Well, if it ain't Joe!” Bill exclaimed, recognizing the pilot of the other plane. “I haven't saw you since we was witnesses in the Mitchell case.” “Oh, well,” Joe ventured, “I reckon what they say is a small universe after all.” Tom S. Elrod. ‘MR. EDISON PIPP WAS DETERMINED THAT HIS FAMILY SHOULD HAVE A VIEW OF THE SCENERY. comicbooks.com