Life, 1926-07-29 · page 13 of 37
Life — July 29, 1926 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **"Late American"** mocks a Pennsylvania bishop's protest against Sunday Exposition at the Sesquicentennial Exhibition, sarcastically listing "native American achievements" (jazz, cricket, Hamlet, etc.) that contradict the bishop's claim of American moral superiority. **"Supply and Demand"** shows a sailor and father negotiating over a daughter's luxuries—typical gender-role satire about courtship expenses. **"Delicacy"** depicts a beach scene where a woman asks about holding a aloof fiancé, reflecting period anxieties about propriety and romance. **"The Czarless Czech"** presents a folk-tale style joke about a Czech lover's cruelty. The page exemplifies Life's blend of social commentary and domestic humor targeting middle-class American conventions and gender dynamics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Degrees of Dumbness OSITIV 0 cheaply as one.” Comparative—"A baby isn’t cx- can live as pensive.” ; . Superlative—Oh, well, it won't cost any more, even with two kids.” Late American N a letter protesting against open- I ing the Sesquicentennial Exposi- tion to the public on Sundays, a bishop of Pennsylvania refers to “that peculiarly American institu- tion, the holy Sabbath.” With such a start, the reverend gentleman might have gone farther and claimed for us additional _ native jevements: t triumphant flowering of Yankce sport, the game of cricket. “The masterpiece of patriotic American drama, ‘Hamlet.’ “That magnificent symbol of our religious fervor, wholly native to our soil, the Gothic cathedral. he delicious beverage our Revo- lutionary forefathers discovered as their greatest boon to mankind, the fermented juice of the grape.” This done, he might have awarded to older lands such atrocities as they are indubitably responsible for: hose foul perversions of music which the Germans have foisted on the world and which they call jazz. “That most debased of hazards, born in blasé Paris, the game of craps. “That peculiarly revolting dance, so typical of its native Russia, the Charleston. “The denial of liberty which only such a dictator as Mussolini would dare to fasten on a peaceful people —Prohibition.” Yes, the reverend gentleman scems to have overlooked a few. James Kevin McGuinness. The Czeerless Czech TO his girl said a Czech: “Fair ezarmer, I come at your bech; When you ezide I am czilled, When you ezuchle I'm thrilled!” But she ezuched the ezap out on his nech. love-smitten T'S a big city to-day if the under- world is on top! (ga oO 4 Lo 7 Supply and Demand H Father: ane you suRE YOU CAN GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE LUXURIES TO WHICH SHE HAS 5 Suitor: 1 oveut To—1’M THE oO: HE real test of President Cool- idge’s reticence will come on this Adirondack vacation when he is tempted to describe the fish that got away. ACCUSTOMED? WHO ACCUSTOMED HER TO TEM. Delicacy M24eD: At the wedding of a for- mer husband, what should his first wife carry? Beatrix: She should hold aloof. “Vm simpty thrilled To near you’re ENGAGED AT last—1’ve ALWAYS SAID A RING ON THE FINGER 18 WORTIL TEN ON THE PLONE.” comicbooks.com