Life, 1927-01-20 · page 9 of 34
Life — January 20, 1927 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch depicts a bookstore conversation between a salesman and a customer interested in Harold Curwood Kyne's "The Story of Philosophy." The humor centers on the customer's contradictory desires: wanting an intellectually serious philosophy book while simultaneously requesting something "simple" with "a good deal of psychology and a good deal of religion—all in quite simple" form. The joke mocks the period's trend of readers seeking "serious" literature without genuine intellectual effort—wanting philosophy made palatable and digestible rather than challenging. The salesman's weary responses and the customer's helpless smile suggest the absurdity of this demand for simplified profundity, satirizing contemporary reading habits and intellectual pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Young People’s Book of Etiquette Party Calls Ne one makes a party call 4N On the dame who hired the hall. Only make one if the prune May throw another party soon. Greetings Should you speak, by any chance, To your hostess at a dance? Yes, say those in manners versed, If your hostess sees you first. Table Manners What to do with forks and knives— That is nothing in your lives, You should know best, lads and lasses, How to handle all the glasses. Courtesies of the Ball Dancing men may well beware Of the hostess and her snare, Or she'll wish on you (doggone her!) Wallflowers or guests of honor. Entertainment “Should she ask him in?” they ask. Solving that’s an easy task. Merely make a simple check— Can the lad—or can’t he—neck ? Fairfax Downey Riddling the Sphinx HE Sphinx was in her element, having solved the mystery of the relative priority of hen or egg. Moreover, she had established the precise whereabouts of Moses at the moment of total eclipse and had ad- vanced conclusive reasons why the daughters of Men abandon their Lares and Penates. Flushed with success, her Sphinxship invited further queries. The traveler from Delphi ad- dressed the Chair: “How long after their inarriage should a bride and gtoom cease to be introduced as such at every social event they attend?” The checkmated Sphinx buried herself in the shifting sands; and the question is unanswered to this very day! R. J.P. Tea Talk STTE: My husband children. Sonia: We haven't any of our own ither. loves Driver: BuT, OFFICER, HE ADMITS IT WAS HIS FAU Cynical Policeman: YEAH, BUT YOU CAN’T NEVER BELIEVE TI PEDESTRIANS, The Zeal for Broader Things Scen SALESMAN (with a little bow): Yes, ma’am.... Lapy witn Pince-Nez: Why, have you “The Story of Philoso- phy"? Satesman: Sorry, but we've just sold our last copy. We can order it for you. L. W. P.: Well, then have you “Why We Behave Like—" ub “Like Human Be- ings,” you mean? Our supply’s e: hausted. We hope to get in a fresh shipment by the first of next month. If you'll give me your name—— WV. P.: You haven't got “This Believing World,” have you? SaresMan (with a helpless smile): 1 Bookstore All those books are best-sellers. There’s been a terrific demand.... (Pause.) I couldn't interest you in the latest by Harold Curwood Kyne, could 1? (He brings it out.) L. W. P.: Is there any philosophy in it? Saresman: Some—and a bit of hology and a good deal of re- ligion—all in outline form and quite simple. L. W. P. (beaming): All right. Wrap it up. Curtain. Tupper Greenwald. GIVE a criminal enough rope and he'll tie up a cashier. - THE BOOTBLACK’S DREAM comicbooks.com