Life, 1926-02-04 · page 25 of 40
Life — February 4, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces typical of 1920s American humor: **"Portrait of a Man with Red Hair"** is a book review by Arthur Guiterman mocking a novel about a villainous red-haired man named Crispin Palmer—described as mentally unstable, cruel, and a collector. The poem jokes that readers should beware of any red-haired man matching this description. A final quip compares the character to Mussolini, suggesting contemporary anxiety about fascism. **"The Man Who Mixed His Drinks"** is a cartoon series (panels 1-9) showing a man progressively borrowing items—a car, a house, a suit—while insisting he'll tell people they belong to the owner. The humor satirizes shameless social parasites and their transparent lies. **"Competition" and "The Anthology Editor Gets the Habit"** are brief joke pieces about theft and engagement, likely referencing contemporary social behavior among literary circles. The overall theme reflects 1920s urban sophistication humor—mocking pretension, dishonesty, and moral flexibility among educated classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Reviews Portrait of a Man with Red Hair By Hugh Waipote Geo. H. Doran Co, HIS red-haired fiend whom stran Sos found Delightful when his mood was calmer Was clearly mentally unsound ; His name was Crispin,—Samuel Palmer. Inheriting a twisted brain, A horrid face and great possessions, Collecting prints and giving pain Were, one may glean, his chief ob- sessions. He caused his son, a stupid churl, To wed a maid; then, growing rougher, This ogre held the lovely girl In durance vile to watch her suffer! Just think: A house beside the sea, Devoted slaves, a secret tower, All quite the way it used to be Lang syne when knighthood was in flower. What good knights hurried fast and far To strive against the Powers of Darkness? A brave young Briton hight Dunbar, A pale American named Harkness. Our heroes failed, as heroes must; They always were a stupid species; Bewildered, cornered, stripped and trussed, They near were sliced to little pieces. But ha! a wight of simple tongue, The giant yeoman Jabez Marriot, Arose and through the window flung The mad, vermilion-polled Iscariot. So now, when all is done and said, Henceforward when you see the hair of A red-haired man whose hair's that red You'll know it's he you must. be- ware of. Arthur Guiterman HAT an executive for a Florida development company this man Mussolini would be! THE MAN WHO MIXED HIS DRINKS The Anthology Editor Gets the Habit “QORRY, old man, to ask you, but could I have your car for a few days? I'll tell everybody it belongs to you. Thanks!” eee “Really, sir, this house is beautiful you have a wonderful view here, I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I moved my family over here for a few weeks I'll tell the visitors the place really be longs to you.” eee “This your new suit? Swell! Bet it'll fit me perfectly. You don't mind if I take it home and wear it a while? Thanks.” JAS, Competition IRST JAILBIRD: How did you get in? Srcoxp Jaro: T a car from a guy who had cc from a bank bandit who had taken it fre hijackers who had snatched it from a bootlegger AS when the time comes for the fixing optimist is one who figures that, rr his various nd a Naval ession at the Bar of the responsibility transgressions, he w Board of Judgment quiry in “AX? so they're engaged ?" *¥ f I hear in- ves, if what correct.”