Life, 1926-08-26 · page 24 of 41
Life — August 26, 1926 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Main Cartoon:** "The Major Operation" satirizes actors' vanity. The joke depicts a surgical procedure to remove "spats" (decorative leg coverings) from an actor—a visual pun suggesting that removing this affectation requires actual surgery. It mocks theatrical self-importance. **"One Subject Under the Sun":** A humorous anecdote about a man (Tom) who never boasts about his business deals or poker wins, yet obsessively discusses how he acquired his suntan. The joke satirizes misplaced priorities—he's reticent about genuine accomplishments but vain about his appearance. **"The Hounds of Spring" Review:** Arthur Guiterman critiques Sylvia Thompson's novel. The romance follows Zina, who marries Major Barrett-Saunderson after her fiancé Colin is reported dead in war. Colin returns shell-shocked; sister Wendy reunites them. Guiterman finds the female lead weak and Colin tediously verbose ("mania loquendi"—excessive talking), praising only Wendy. The review is gently satirical about romantic fiction tropes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Major Operation REMOVING THE SPATS FROM AN ACTOR One Subject Under the Sun “rom olf.” “Yes. Always under cighty, and he never even mentions it.” “I heard that he put over a deal that netted him a hundred thousand.” “So did I. But you'll never get a word about it out of him.” “Why, he even held a royal flush once, and but for the others in the game I'd never have heard of it.” “But there is one subject he'll talk about.” “What is it? It can’t be anything personal.” “It sure is! If it weren't for the fact that usually I do all the talk- ing when I see Tom, I would not have listened to him. He had me cornered for half an hour the other shoots a great game of day, telling me how, when and where he acquired the marvelous sunburn he is proudly displaying.” Bill Sykes. NOW You TELL ONE VHE was overdressed. Rhymed Reviews The Hounds of Spring By Sylvia Thompson Little, Brown & Ca, E NCHANTING Zina, prized of men, Sir Edgar daughter, Was just betrothed to Colin, when They sent him off to war and slaughter. Renner's oldest Half-crazed by news of Colin's fall, Though warned by those whose heads were sager Rosina gave her hand and all To Barrett-Saunderson, a Major. This Major, bright, Self-satisfied as pigs in clover, Was always kind and always right; A former wife had thrown him over. handsome, not too Now Colin wasn’t really dead; Yet, when his shell-shocked mind was clearing, Believing Zina gladly wed He scorned the thought of reap- pearing. But Sister Wendy chanced to meet The laggard lover, mud-bespat- tered, And dragged him back to Zina’s feet; For Love, she said, was all that mattered. To Barrett-Saunderson they went, And said, “We really beg your pardon, But you can go to Parliament, For we are going off to Arden.” The gallant Barrett-Saunderson Was hurt but bore it like a Briton. The sundered lovers now arc one. The book is well and bravely writ- ten. But what with Zina’s lack of force And Colin’s mania loquendi, Except the dear-old-dad, of course, The only one I liked was Wendy. Arthur Guiterman. comicbooks.com