Life, 1926-08-05 · page 32 of 41
Life — August 5, 1926 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine collects humorous anecdotes and short jokes from various publications, organized under the header "Our Foolish Contemporaries." The content satirizes early 20th-century social pretensions and absurdities. Key examples include: - **"Lack of Tact"**: A cartoon mocking private detectives' bluntness (French source). - **"Couldn't Be Both"**: Jokes about class contradictions—a woman expects a garbage collector to behave like a gentleman, revealing snobbish assumptions. - **"Princesses"**: A longer poem contrasting idealized fairy-tale princesses (gracious, formal) with modern royal women (smoking, flicking ash casually, behaving like ordinary people). The satire suggests modern royalty disappoints romantic expectations. - **"Manhattan Dialogues"**: Mockery of wealthy New Yorkers who gain social standing through divorce. The cartoons and brief quips target pretentiousness, class consciousness, and the gap between traditional expectations and modern behavior. The magazine's satirical approach assumes educated readers who recognize these social ironies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lack of Tact “THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE PRIVATE DE- TECTIVE AGENCY.” —Le Rire (Paris). Joan Kinley at School Howters submitted by a teacher of hired education in New York, being an- swers in June examinations: Capulets — Poetry with a certain measure popular in the eighteenth century. Heroic Couplet—A great deed done by two people Riverside Drire—The most statutory street in America. Tedium — Necessary part of the Episcopal Church ‘service. —New York World. Manhattan Dialogues “Are they prominent. socially? “Goodness, no! Neither of them has had a Paris divorce.” —New York Sun, When in Rome Iranian Customs Orriciat, (to tour- ists): Have you any uncomplimentary opinions about Mussolini to declare? —New Yorker, Ose wonders if it is treason in Italy to call an employer the boss, —Columbia (S. C.) State. “INDEED TILE SHRIMPS ARE FRESH, STR. JUST THINK—THEY ARRIVED Y¥ THIS MORNING FROM MADAGASCAR.” —Le Journal Amusant (Paris). “Aut Scissors aut Nullus” Couldn't Be Both Aw Indianapolis woman had an alter- cation with the colored garbage man. She called up the proper authority to re- port him, saying that he spoke to her in a very “ungentlemanly manner. The man at the other end of the line said: “Why, lady, you surely wouldn't expect him to be a gentleman and a garbage collector, too!" —Indianapolis News, Too Late for Herpicide “Have you any dolls, Ruth?” we asked the little girl living in our house. “Yes, [have one,” Ruth answered, “but Aunty let it) fall and all the dandruff came out!" —Charleston News and Courier. Brilliant Little Things Sion in a New York jewelry store: “Pearls and other Precocious Stones.” —Boston Transeript. 1 GIVE You A London Opinion, Caught Youna Wire (to her friend): Just think what a painful position I am in. While T was fainting because my hus- band would not buy me a new hat T saw him kiss the maid—and I can’t say any- thing about it because T was supposed to be unconscious! —Passing Show (London). As Advertised Tur only honest native in Havana, de- clares the Havana Evening Telegram, is the proprietor of a shop in that more than fair city who has embellished his window with a sign: “Broken English Spoken."—New York Herald Tribune. Sweet Adversity Mansi: [I drink only to drown my troubles, Ray: What are your troubles? “Finding something to drink!" —Collier’s, Lecrer time-saver. Lovesicx Pvpit: Love at first sight. — Answers (London). Name a great universal App Similes: As long as a bootlegger’s calling list.—Detroit Free Press. Princesses (But as for dancing—’ here the princess paused in the middle of a royal puff." ‘Don't you think I'm a bit beyond the dancing stage? And when the reporters didn’t think so, she just smiled and knocked the ashes from the royal cigarette.”"—From an interview with Prin. cess Lonise of Sweden.) Tue princess in the fairy tales was gra- cious and serene, She had a bower Within a tower And princes serenaded her; She spent her time embroidering and chatting with the queen, And if a spell Upon her fell The knights all came and aided ber; She moved, aloof and haughty, in a very ritzy set, And she never knocked the ashes from the royal cigarette. The princess in the fairy tales T knew in early youth, And she was fair And debonair, Whate'er her nationality; She properly impressed me, but, to tell the simple truth, She was a bore, And made me sore With all her stiff formality; And ['d have liked her better if she'd been a trifle rash, And winked across the table as she flicked the royal ash! —S. K. in Spokane Spokesman-Review. Seems Impossible “In’s hard for me to get up early,” said the young fellow. “Why don’t you go to bed early, then?” asked his innocent uncle. “That would be even harder.” —Cincinnati Enquirer. The Sporting Instinct Earty Curistian (at the arena); Psst, bookie, put this five denarii on the lion.—Nebraska Awgwan, “STOP CRYING, YOU BIG BABY!” “1 won’r. 11’s ME owN cry.” —Bulletin (Sydney). comicbooks.com