Life, 1926-03-25 · page 17 of 40
Life — March 25, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical business humor with colonial-era social commentary. The left column offers tongue-in-cheek "Useful Definitions for Budding Business Men"—mock definitions of workplace jargon like "Go-Getter," "Brass Tacks," and "Golf," poking fun at corporate culture and masculine business pretensions. The main illustration depicts a colonial scene with a European officer observing Indigenous people dancing. The caption reads: "Young Woman: ISN'T IT WONDERFUL HOW QUICKLY THE SAVAGES LEARN TO IMITATE US?" This satirizes European colonial attitudes—the ironic "compliment" that Indigenous peoples are adopting European ways reflects period-typical racist assumptions about "civilization." The joke critiques colonial condescension rather than endorsing it, suggesting European observers' self-satisfied ignorance about cultural appropriation and colonial impact.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Useful Definitions for Budding Business Men O-GETTER—An G for one who is F on His Feet; one who excels at ¢ obsolete ig unim- portant things in an important way. Pour Light on the Matter—What your cook’s cousin's aunt thinks about anything irrelevant to a subject under discussion. slight semblance of interest displayed in a routine affair. Keen as Mustard—A Yes-man—An insect that can never forget that its bread is buttered on only one side. ade dur- Ir sec- Dictation—Certain noises m ing a business morning while y retary is writing your letters Tron Out Di lection of words used to excuse midday overeating Sense of Humor—Ability to laugh loudly at the wrong joke told by the right man, Pu y the Cards Right on the Table —Telling the truth when it seems a wise ulties—Standard col business move. . My Angle—The opinion held by your chief assistant or your wife on a given subject. Golf—Originally a game, now a busi ness evil. Never indulged THE STATE PIRD OF FLORIDA IN AN APPROPRIATE. SETTING but only “to keep fit,” or “to gether with a man.” Brass Tacks—Something ‘down to” bi mark that never sit arted the ‘gument. ou get The re- Young Woman: Isn't 1 WONDERFUL HOW QUICKLY THE SAVAGES LEARN To IMITATE US? Reversion to Type HE time had ied them with pictur A man could sit in his easy chair, tune in when the nsel selves. Parliament as well as hea could see th he parack y made a we ssiness years before and the magazines A man who would nowhere leit his mc strolled down the crowd collected follow one of the resid the only man i: try who can rea’ Te Front! K'8¢ OF ITALY: Anythir sir ng else, comicbooks.com