Life, 1926-04-08 · page 32 of 52
Life — April 8, 1926 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes three topics: **"Affairs of State"** mocks the recently established transatlantic wireless telephone service (likely 1920s). The joke: a trivial domestic call between Secretary Kellogg and Premier Baldwin demonstrates the technology's impracticality—they reach each other only to exchange pleasantries about colds, making international telephone communication seem pointless rather than revolutionary. **"Breaking Up the Game"** shows a sailor's complaint that Columbus interrupted his card game just as he drew a fourth ace—a dig at Columbus Day celebrations or historical reverence, suggesting even momentous discoveries are merely inconvenient interruptions to ordinary people. **"En Brochette"** features a European (likely French or German based on the dialogue) asking why foreigners make church steeples unnecessarily sharp—possibly satirizing European architectural pretension or continental affectations that Americans found absurd. The overall tone is typical American satirical magazine humor: deflating grandeur through domestic mundanity and gentle ethnic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Affairs of State OW, children, the most important thing in th papers lately is the fact th have established 1 ! lar wireless telephone service across the Atlantic, tell you all about it © the conversation is between Secretary and Premier Baldwin. The telephos 1h use, “You answer it,” li," retorts Mrs, , rings in Mr, Baldwin's Bald win; “it's probably one of your friends.” “TL ¢ id this ». “Answer it grumb! 2: ave to answer the telephe Mr. Baldy you there » but he goes phone and says, “Are this hpiece with 4 i aldwin unmuzzles rank! How are BREAKING UP THE GAME Excited Sailor: Laxp uo! Lano! Columbus (despe Don't be an a is Frank.” So Mr his hand and says s wife, pould | know?" she ask and says, “Why, hello, “How the transm dently) > AIN'T THAT JUST NY LUCK? ‘Oh, I'm all right,” says Mr. have ai “[ just didn’t ht I'd call you up. How are you?" “I'm fine,” says Mr. Baldwin. “How are you?” “Well, ['m all right.” says Mr. Kelle side of a little cold.” “Well, I'm sorry to hear t Mr. vin, “heea I've a little cold myself have?” asks Mr. Kellogg. “Well, I'm certainly Then there is a pause of sev “Well,” says Mr. Kellogg after a while anything special to AND JUST AS | DREW THE FOURTH ace! thing to do t s eveni “Well,” says Mr. Baldwin, “it's cc from you. says Mr. K tainly will,” ‘ been fine to hear ‘out- I me up ag ain ome time.” “I certainly will.” “and you call me some time.” “I cer Baldwin. “Well, good-by.” “Well, g00d-by says } you find out who it .” says Mr. Baldwin, “it was some fellow with a cold and I couldn't hardly under what an inestim So then Mrs. Baldwin says, “I “I didn’t have . », so I thought I'd just call up and wa nd him.” say ‘Hello. Sut there wasn't anything in’ particular.” So you see, dear: ble boon to the speedy tlantic tele ip Bliss f settling of inter ional di nica es this tran er phonic comn ion is going to be. The Reward of Ambition was lonely. He wan ted to make friends. He s which said: “Play a saxc and get ahead socially.” “My ch thought. “Now I will get to know people.” He sent for the saxophone. It arrived. He blew in it for some ti He didn't know any one in the apartment house when he started blowing into it. He all now, And nad. ina nce ! ws them ne people from next door besides. He did get ahead socially—about three blocks ahead of the nearest: pursuer. However, he's ost interest in music. European r): MINNIE, DOESN'T IT SEEM TO VOU THAT THESE FOR: FIGNERS KE THEIR CHURCH STEEPLES UNNECESSARILY SHARP?