Life, 1926-12-16 · page 12 of 34
Life — December 16, 1926 — page 12: 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 Poetic Pedestrian"** (right): A poem mocking street poets who compose verses while observing urban crowds, apparently trying to sell their work. The satire suggests these poets are pretentious yet commercially desperate. **Top cartoon**: Shows a banker speaking to reporters about handling financial matters "masterfully." The satire targets financial elites' self-aggrandizement, particularly their secretive dealings that the public doesn't understand. **"Baby Dollies"**: Satirizes stage mothers who exploit young daughters in entertainment, pushing them toward theatrical careers. **"Around the Clock"**: A brief workplace joke about a night-shift day club. **"Success Talk"** (right): A conversational cartoon mocking business clichés and the repetitive nature of successful businessmen's advice. The overall tone reflects Life's consistent satirical critique of American social pretension and commercialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Prominent Banker (concluding his little chat with the ship-news reporters) : AND AS FOR TILE FOREIGN MELLON HAS HANDLED THE MATTER IN A MA! I SHOULD BE GLAD TO 4 AGREE WITIL ME, N, | BELIEVE THAT SECRETARY RLY FASHION, IF YOU DON’? SWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN MIND. Tabloid Reporter: 1s vv TRUE THAT YOUR WIFE 1S CONTEMPLATING DIVORCE? Baby Dollies A NICE old lady chanced to ob- tve two little girls dancing ly on the sidewalk to the ns of a hurdy-gurdy. Impressed their talent, she paused to in- quire of one of them: “What's your girl?” “My name's Elizabeth Jones.” The old lady turned to the other. “And what's your name?” she asked. “Jane Smith,” was the reply. “Well, well,” murmured the old lad And what are two such pretty little girls going to be when they grow up?” “We're going into musical com- edy,” they informed her, with prac- tically no hesitation, “and be twins.” name, my little Discovered “I THOUGHT you said she meant the world to you.” “She did, but I finally got around her.” . Around the Clock WWuat's this big new id Jenkins is working out “Why, haven't you heard? He's going to s a day club for night club worker: The Poetic Pedestrian pAcH day as I stray through our thoroughfares gay : Composing a sonnet or ode, let us say, My spirit, though somewhat dis- tracted, is bowed Observing the marvelous poise of the crowd. How nimbly they hop or as suddenly stop, Controlled, to a man, by the will of the cop Who seems, as he poses with up- lifted paw, The very personification of law! Yet I am inclined to believe that my mind , Is one that no legal restriction can bind, For oft, as I dream, I awake in mid- stream With a purple-faced constable blow- ing off steam. And though I expect that some day I'll connect With the bow of a bus and be hope- lessly wrecked, I cannot but feel that the price, if you please, Will be rather too high for such verses as these. G. S.C. Success Talk ERRY: Berry claims he’s losing day after day. ikes to talk like a big, successful business man. He: piv you reap My story IN THE Saturday Evening Post THs weEK? She: 1 Never reap THE Saturday Evening Post. JUST AS I’M GOING TO SLEEP, IT WILL FALL ON MY PACE AD IM ALWAYS AFRAID THAT, D KILL ME. comicbooks.com