Life, 1926-09-16 · page 17 of 40
Life — September 16, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical humor pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"The Business Situation"** presents a lengthy quote from a bank president claiming financial stability despite mounting manufacturing challenges and European market uncertainties—satirizing corporate optimism during uncertain economic times. **"Accuracy"** mocks a physical instructor and client through a visual gag about chin exercises, playing on fitness fads. **"Trial by Ordeal"** humorously describes an awkward job candidate who fails a final test by losing composure at a drinking fountain—satirizing employment interviews. **"In Utopia"** jokes about class mobility through a man in overalls, suggesting workers cannot advance regardless of effort. **"Fairy Story"** concludes with ironic advice about newly married couples, mocking sentimental domestic expectations. The page emphasizes social and economic absurdities through period-appropriate humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Business Situation Montuty Letter, Presipent or First Nationa, Bank: “ \VHILE it must always be as- sumed that our financial posi- tion, as the creditor nation of the world, is impregnable, and recogniz- ing the fact that our bank clearings are constantly mounting and our manufacturing attaining new high levels of production, we should not overlook the possible effects of un- favorable weather conditions and political uncertainties in certain agricultural centers, as well as the increasing extravagance of local gov- ernments in fostering paternalistic enterprises, the final disastrous dé- nouement of the Florida real-estate boom, the chaotic condition of European money marts, and the as- sumption of enormous interest-bear- ing obligations—in the aggregate— by the masses in the purchase of lux- uries that they cannot afford. It is the consensus of opinion among bankers, railroad executives, manu- facturers, statisticians and financial editors that, while the first half of the fiscal year partook of the nature of a business revival, relatively speaking, and excepting a few less auspicious developments such as the corn belt unrest, it may be wise, within the bounds of economic ra- tionality, to pursue a policy of re- trenchment for the remainder of the Averace Mercuant: “Business rotten.” A. Watkins. Accuracy Physical Instructor: Now, mrs. pow , IP YOU WILL GRASP TIUIS BAR, AND TRY TO CHIN yours! Mrs. Pounds: pors 1T MAKE ANY DIF NCE WHICH CHIN? Trial by Ordeal WE had advertised for a “brave man. And this last candidate gave promise of meeting our demands. His references were first-rate: he had been married twice to Chicago, voluntarily, three times. Save for the final test he had passed all the steps without batting an eye. Unflinchingly he had asked a hotel “\ND ONE OTHER THING, MARIE—IN ANSWERING THE DOOR, THESE ARE A TLEMEN 1 AM ALWAys not at home to.” clerk for a room without the pretext of having made a reservation. He had solicited Klan memberships in the City Hall. He had acted as a pedestrian for three hours. Now came the final test. But here the man's face blanched, his eyes rolled, his voice broke, and he sobbed a request to be spared this last requirement. He simply couldn't allow any one else to control the lever of the drink- ing fountain while he sipped its waters. G.P. In Utopia man in boss’s son. “PHAT overalls is the He's working here as a day laborer.” “T see. ting at the bottom to work his way up, eh?” “Not at all. He started at top and they pushed him down.” the Fairy Story “y! it is my firm belief that a newly married couple should be left. entirely to. themselves,” an- nounced the bride's mother. comicbooks.com