Life, 1927-01-20 · page 6 of 34
Life — January 20, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct sections: 1. **"The Advertisement Reader's Guide to French"** — A humorous vocabulary list translating French fashion and culture terms (Odeur/Odor, Tour Eiffel, etc.) into blunt English equivalents, satirizing pretentious Francophilia among American readers. 2. **"Journalistic Portraits: Benito Mussolini"** — A biographical sketch describing Mussolini as an eight-foot tall jewelry store auctioneer inhabiting Rome's Colosseum, sarcastically listing his varied accomplishments (automobile salesman, boxer, motion-picture star). The exaggerated, contradictory description mocks his grandiose self-presentation. 3. **Bottom cartoon** — Depicts a Coast Guard officer and rum runner at a boat, playing on Prohibition-era smuggling. The joke's specific meaning is unclear without additional context. All content satirizes contemporary figures and cultural pretensions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WRREN’T YOU NERVOUS WHEN you ASKED HIM FOR MONEY THE FIRST TIME? “No, 1 WAS CALM AND COLLECTED!” The Advertisement Reader’s Guidg to French P4 RFUM Perfume. .. Odor. . Eiffel Tower. Adam and Eve. Débutante. ‘over Charge. Débutante. . Couvert Charg Flacon. . soe seee es Quality. ....... Distinguished. Le Secret de la Perle. The Secret of the Pearl. Journalistic Portraits Benito Mussolini HE is eight feet tall and has a voice like a jewelry store auc- tioncer. He inhabits the Colosseum in Rome, where he answers ques- tions in the manner of Frederic J. Hask: He is the Arthur Brisbane of Italy. He is an automobile sales- man, a Florida city booster, a lyce- um lecturer, heavyweight champion, and motion-picture star combined. He has made Italy the limit in lim- ited monarchies. He is magnani- mous and tolerant, giving King— what’s his name?—a lot of consid- eration. He would be a wow at life insur- ance or the bond game. McC. H. Life Index “TT'S time,” the publisher told his staff, “that we gave some twist to this short story anthology idea. The market's overloaded with collections of best stories.” He pointed to two long shelves of books on the wall behind him. ‘ou ve published nine collections es this year. And here are forty-four more got out by other panics. Something new would go over big, I think. I'd like to have some ideas.” Ten minutes passed. Suddenly, through the fog of cigarette smoke, a staff member cried: “Why not publish a collection called *The Worst Short Stories of 19267? “Great!” exclaimed the publisher. “That's new. They'll eat it up.” And the staff applauded. “We'll get to work on it at once,” the publisher continued. “We've got an index here of all the stories printed in the magazines during the past year. Let me have a_ pencil, somebody.” A pencil was given him. “All right,” he said. “Now I'll hold the index while you boys call off the titles and authors in all these books. I'll check off in the index all those stories that have already been reprinted in collections of Bey Short Stories. Those that are lef we'll look up in back numbers of th magazines and we'll pick the worg for our collection.” Three hours passed. The proces of eliminating reprinted stories wx ov What's left in the index?” asked P) | a staff member. “Not Jamned thing,” answered the publisher hoarsely. Tupper Greenwald. Evolution 1927—"Isn't it strange anybody could object to the moden J bathing-suit ?” 2027—"T don’t know but whi this new fad of going swimming with out bathing-suits is going a bit to far.” 2127 sn't it strange anybod could object to the healthful custea of going swimming without a bathing suit?” ' SENTIMENTALIST: Do *7 know why the heart always faster when some one you love proaches ? Sopiusticatr: Sure. You're woe dering if she’s alone or with be} husband. Coast Guard: weave To! Rum Runner: two wuat? comicbooks.com