Life, 1926-01-14 · page 25 of 40
Life — January 14, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate comic pieces satirizing American life: **"Lessons in New Yorkese"** mocks working-class New York City immigrant dialect through a comedic dialogue about library visits. The exaggerated phonetic spelling ("cannabil leemee eyes," "Owello Mae") ridicules how non-native English speakers sound to native ears—typical of period humor that punched down at immigrants and the poor. **"Free Show"** depicts a con artist selling a dubious real estate scheme to a gullible buyer, pitching a house so tiny it requires only half an acre of land. The humor lies in the obvious absurdity the builder presents with a straight face. **"The Beginning"** shows a Black couple (indicated by dialect) explaining their marriage to a judge, with the punchline that poverty ("dumb" wife) caused their troubles—a crude stereotype playing on class and race. The page reflects Life's satirical approach: mocking immigrants, the poor, and racial minorities through exaggerated dialect and "fool" characters, representing attitudes common in early 20th-century American humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lessons in New Yorkese “WELL cannabil leemee eyes Tes. Chag: sie! 1 awm Owello Mae “Sa book fag’ ? Cha get tit?” Inna liberry “Whattizzit deerie sumpin snaappy “Nowittaint — snaappy Sa booka potry “Cha mean owtamake jugsan jarsan | “Voises ys “Osa booka voises. Chasayse, Giv vus alook attit Tessie feeva now “Chaworry kid...Olissenna this ‘Innexna doodid Koobla Kohn Astaley_plejjadom degree pha seared rivvaran Mac fatha luvvapect “Summerizza_cumminnin, sudsing kookoo.. “Youseddit! — Is: ki “Chawanna getta bookfa inna fois place?” “Ididin getta booka goilinna liberry gimmeit.” Wellya astierrit did Free Show Coming Across “Ididnawt! Isez tathagoil gimme . dgosd ‘books’:potty. anshe'(giniine ihie V ILLIE called his mother, Bane Come on, now, where's ‘ our sidewalk slippery the rest of your money herenow ‘The Awxfid Booka English MGI I Vy Irn t sahacae swell, Mother. [ saw six met Scaxeo Victim T'll have t-to Voise.’ Anbeleemee Imgointa takeit pris ; ‘ jown already g-g-give you a check backan tell her afew “Whawas yawantin abooka voisesia ——————————___—_. annichow? Yin luvva sum tinly nan Fiyam snobuddy’s bizniss neeth: “Wellya musta wantida booka potry awya woodena gottit.” Yareely wantaknow fawhatta got- titfa Miss Snozey? “Well, I know yamusta gottit fasome reezin.” “Izzat so? Wella gottit becawsa thawtit wood helpme tawrite awinnin annsa inna limmerick contest!” Henry William Hai The Beginning UDGE: How did your family troubles start? Lutu: Well, Jedge, yo’ Honah, we done got married — ‘entor: YOU SEE, WITH A HOUSE DESIGNED AS THIS ONE IS, YOU WOULD ONLY OOR Dora, she is so b that she HAVE TO BUY HALF AN ACRE OF LAND ILD oN thinks a water moccasin is a kind Builder: wut now wovtn of wading Inventor: WOW DOES A TOR STAND UP? comicbooks.com