Life, 1926-08-26 · page 9 of 41
Life — August 26, 1926 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical cartoons about American life and stereotypes: **"On the Boulevards"** depicts a Parisian tourist encountering an American at a bar, with the American characterized as homesick and wanting "a good speak-easy"—a reference to Prohibition-era illegal bars. **"Pullman Conductor"** shows a railroad conductor dismissing a passenger's complaint about a gentleman not paying attention, with the conductor refusing to intervene, saying the man "ain't give me no honorarium." This satirizes corruption among railroad staff who apparently required bribes to enforce civility. Both cartoons mock American behavior and values—the first portraying American tourists abroad as crass and drink-obsessed, the second critiquing workplace corruption and the commodification of basic service standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ballade of the G. O. S. Yr ho for the great open spaces! Yo equally ho for the West! Whose beaunashes wear hair on their faces And favor the openface vest. It’s of all lands the biggest and best; It's a land rich in cattle and grain, Whose motto gleams proud on its crest: “If It Only Would Rain!" It's there that the jackrabbit races And a feller grows hair on his chest. Where the wheat’s ten feet high (in some places)— Past doubt it’s the Land of the Blest. God's Country! whose generous breast Flows nurture from mountain and plain (That is, be it sadly confessed, If it only would rain!). The men of that land are all aces. They're he-men by every test. They pull all their weight on the traces, Though their hair pants are some- times unpressed. What matters it how they be dressed? They are mighty of body and brain And they’d put it all over the rest If it only would rain! L'Envor O land of a bounty unguessed, Dare one hint that that sombre refrain Becomes sometimes a bit of a pest? If it only would rain! Baron Ireland. Hardly Fair IRECTOR OF PERSONNEL: Before we can engage you, you will have to take an intelligence test. Gin Appticant: — Intelligence test! Why, the ad said you wanted a stenographer! LONG with the other poor judges of distance should be ranked the man that designates ring- side seats at a championship prize- fight. On the Boulevards Gay Tourist (in Paris): cukerR uP, OLD MAN—WE’RE COMING TO THE AMERICAN RAR. Gloomy Once: WHAT'S AN AMERICAN BAR 10 A MAN WHO IS HOMESICK FOR A GOOD SPEAK-EAsy? Pullman Conductor (on the Congressional Limited): were, 8AM, WHY AREN'T YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT GENTLEMAN? Porter: WELL, BOSS, HE AIN’T GIVE ME NO HONORARIUM, comicbooks.com