Life, 1926-08-12 · page 19 of 36
Life — August 12, 1926 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American tourists in post-WWI Paris. The main comic strip depicts wealthy Americans abroad behaving arrogantly and boorishly—throwing money around carelessly, demanding service in broken French, and boasting about America's role in winning World War I ("Where'd you all be now if the li'l ole U.S.A. hadn't come across back in 1917?"). The humor targets American cultural stereotypes: ignorance of foreign customs, loud behavior, excessive spending, and jingoistic superiority. Phrases like "all Americans is a bunch of suckers" (spoken by the tourists themselves) and their condescending attitude toward French people reinforce the mockery. The surrounding satirical "attractions" (Head Hunters, Incurable Cannibals, Darkest Africa) mock the era's exotic tourist destinations and colonial attitudes. The small "Fairy Story" at bottom—about training a wife not to squeeze toothpaste—provides light domestic humor, unrelated to the main satire. Overall, Life magazine uses this to critique American travelers' behavior and attitudes during the prosperous 1920s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EROUS TIBETAN] BRIDGE U akEAK IN CENTER. t) u CERT No hile I scratch my initials an’ the date on the side of this Trianon pla Some of my friends might here some day and see it.” wenty frances for a bottle o° ? 'S an outrage! I won't pay t! Sen’ me the manager....You tta be firm with these guys, Ed; hey think all Americans is a bunch Hf suckers. We'll show um we come rom a free country “Hey. mademoiselle, promenade aycc moy toot sweet?” “Yeah, they're all alike—after nickel they can grab.” give the cabby a hundred francs an’ tell him to feed it to the goldfish. What's money to us?” “T know what. Let's you an’ me put a case o’ champagne in one of these open-faced taxis an’ pee-rade all over Pari “Lookut, the band’s started playin’ ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ Let's make um all stand up. Hey, allay oop, vous!” EI EXPLORERS SEARCHED FOR, mm RESCUES ATTEMPTED IN es: Tae SHIP STUCK Fast in ICE awnranS) y EN NAA AFRICA Les AT orrnice- i ae ‘if Ag i mel i lth all q (Ba RELIEF PARTY OFFICE h ANY PART OF THE LOT,IN STRICT ROTATION — ee No! we have eine fore him for ov cae « He vas | last seen in ver mhe fey wamp “Where'd you all be now if the li'l ole U. S. A. hadn't come across back in 1917?" “Let's teach um that raw song about the French girls that the boys sung in the war.” “Hey, monseer, qui a gagné la guerre? Les américains! Whee!!!!" Tip Bliss. Fairy Story NCE a man succeeded in train- ing his wife not to squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle. comicbooks.com