Life, 1926-01-14 · page 10 of 40
Life — January 14, 1926 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"Ballade of Thorough Skepticism"** (poem by Simonetta): Mocks sensationalist newspaper journalism—particularly crime reporting—that fabricates or exaggerates stories ("Aged Clubman Kidnaps Nine") to fill space. The refrain "You can't believe a word the papers say" is the central complaint about media unreliability. 2. **"Home Life of the Comedy 'Gag' Man"** (by Robert Lord): Humorous account of a slapstick comedy writer's chaotic domestic life, where his own home becomes a constant physical disaster (hoses, radio explosions, ice mishaps) mirroring the "gags" he writes. 3. **"His Own Diagnosis"** (cartoon): A doctor and patient discuss X-ray negatives, with the punchline suggesting the doctor has misidentified images or the patient's condition remains unclear—playing on medical uncertainty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - Bride-to-Be: DARLING, WOULD YOU PREFER ME TO LEAVE OUT THE “OBEY” PART DURING THE CEREMONY, OR LATER 0. Home Life of the Comedy ‘Gag” Man bed to his dog's collar and gets pulled to bathroom door. Brushes teeth with shav cream; foams at the mouth. His wife calls the fire department, which instantly arrives and turns th on him. He turns the hose on them, washing them the door. Sub- stitutes yellow soap for butter and brown varnish for coffee at breakfast. Sits on waffle-iron; springs up, over- turning table Rolls into flour bin; emerges white from head to foot. His wife cleans him off with vacuum cleaner His clothes come off and are sucked into the nozzle. Snatches up rug to cover himself; ice man arrives and makes love to wife. Chases ice man with ice tongs; is chased by ice man with same. Slips on cake of ice, lands on tea-cart and rolls around room, loosening wires of radio-set. Rolls into kitchen; attaches these wires to electric refrigerator, Falls off tea- cart into red-hot oven. Leaps out to hear electric refri pla “Everything Is Hotsy Totsy Now” while radio set is covered with frost. Radio set explodes, blowing him into car standing at curb. Hitches dog to car. Dog chases cat—pulling gagman to studio and his day's work. Subject: Robert Lord. Ballade of Thorough Skepticism 'O day goes by without some fla About the latest heinous criminal case. Who wants to hear “Aged Clubman Kidnaps Nine"? They simply put it in to fill up space What with the tales of murderers that place Their victims in a swamp, then calmly slay The horsed policemen who are giving chase, 1 can’t believe a word the papers say ch Poisoner Confesses All; Sheds Brine ‘oung Lover, Jilted, Shoots at Sweetheart's Fac Such stuff is printed to excite the spit They simply put it in to fill up space You see the front-page has to keep apace With current life; if nothing happens, they Just make it up! It’s really a disgrace You can't believe a word the papers say Could anybody be so rank a swine As to purloin ten thousand yards of lace? Or secretly explode a peopled mine? They simply put it in to fill up space Most probably there's not the slightest trace Of war between Peru and Paraguay, But truth is not the idol they embrace— You can't believe a word the papers say O Readers, shun the reportorial race! They simply put it in to fill up space Although you scan them closely day by da You can't believe a word the papers say Simonetta, His Own Diagnosis “AJOW, listen, doc,” said the patient. “Before you start to work on me I want you to know that I haven't got inflammation of the purse.” HOW MANY EXPOSURES LEFT ON THAT NEGATIVE? Ex-Golfer: 1 Le FIVE. comicbooks.com