Life, 1926-12-30 · page 25 of 37
Life — December 30, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This multi-panel page satirizes early 1920s urban anxieties and labor unrest. **"Country Cousins"** (Frank H. Williams): A rural family debates visiting New York City to expose their children to urban life. The joke: they live on the 252nd floor of an apartment building, so when the Elevator Gentlemen's Union strikes, they're literally stranded and cannot descend to the city. The satire mocks both the era's nascent elevator/union labor disputes and the absurdity of being "in" the city yet unable to access it—commentary on how labor strikes could paralyze modern urban infrastructure. **Other items**: "L'heure intime" is a brief romantic poem about a couple's intimate subway moment interrupted by her station stop. "Social Wisdom" jokes about servant trustworthiness. The Jackson Whippy cartoon references his failed 1921 coal supply campaign ("you can't fuel all the people all the time"), likely alluding to post-WWI fuel shortages and labor conflicts. The page reflects 1920s concerns: labor unionism, modern transportation systems, and urban-versus-rural life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Country Cousins E. really must go down to the city!” exclaimed the matronly Mrs. Snat. “The children are grow- ing up without knowi ing much of anything about it. We don’t want them to go on like this, never knowing any more than they do now.” “Oh, wait a while,” urged Mr. Snat. “It's comfort- able here. There’s plenty for the youngsters to do, too. We have our radio, There are other children for them to play with. And the air is just fine away from the fu mes of the Be- sides, it’s a big trip to the city. Think of what it would mean for us with our three children. There's no hurry about it.” But Mrs. Snat was obdurate. WHIPPY, THE MAN WHO TRIED TO 2 ‘8 SUPPLY OP COAL AND FAILED,” “WE EVIDENTLY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T FUEL The children ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.” simply must visit the city. Here ’ ge they ‘were; six, L’heure intime seven and eight ER head lay on his bosom, and his face years old, and no Deep in her fragrant hair was made to press; experiences in Forces unseen had ordered that embrace, city traffic or in A power beyond control, that sweet caress. the city parks. Mes. Suat didn't Then suddenly she leapt back with a bound: to hil His face showed neither sadness nor clation— want’ her chil You see, it was the rush hour underground dren to be noth- And she was just alighting at her station. ing but country J.P. F. cousins all their JANE Edith is an awfully graceful dancer. So a day was Mary: Yes, terribly out of date. Ensnared set, and on that HAT ROGER HAS MARRIED THE day the children Gini He’s BEEN CHASING FoR so Were washed and combed and “YES, SHE FINALLY CAUGHT HIM.” garbed in their best, and the whole family set forth on the memorable adventure. But, alas, alas! } Snat was ted in her pur- pose at the final moment. hei me to the ele- vator shaft they found the Elevator Gentlemen’s Union lad gone out on a strike, so that it was entirely out of the question to go down to the city. » Snats, you see, lived on the two hundred and second floor of a New York apartment house! Frank H. Williams. Social Wisdom SHE: I've persuaded Mother not to lay out any of the solid silver for the dinner we're giving to-night. Hr: But surely the servants are trustworthy ! Sue: Yes, the servants are. A LOT of Christmas gifts are mismailed every year, Those Old Nursery Rhymes and a lot more should be. “SOCK-A-BYE, BABY.” comicbooks.com