Life, 1927-02-24 · page 24 of 39
Life — February 24, 1927 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces mocking early 20th-century American life: **"Superfluous"** jokes about a clerk's failed attempt to sell oatmeal soap to a woman who reveals her family never washes their oatmeal—absurdist humor about sales pitches. **"Thoughts of a Girl Traveling"** satirizes women's scattered minds, depicting a girl obsessing over fashion, male attention, and lost tickets rather than practical concerns—reflecting period stereotypes about female irrationality. **"Malicious Mischief"** involves a drunk man trapped in a revolving door, with a doorman's darkly humorous response about damaged property. **"Henry L. Mencken"** is a celebrity roast of the famous Baltimore critic, mocking his intellectual pretensions, his religious cynicism, and his work with *The Smart Set* magazine—positioning him as representative of self-important intellectuals. The window washer cartoon jokes about class and propriety: a working-class man's casual response ("suspenders") to a nervous lady's concern about safety standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ji fp tf 7 THe Pesto Surei on. Vacuurt CLEANER’ 13 / POSITA GuAR} oY /ANTEED To REMOVE ALL DUST £ DIRT! “HUH, CHARLIE! THEY'LL HAVE TO LL, MISTER, GIVE US A DEMON- prove THAT To Us! STRATION. AND ILL TELL THE WORLD YOU'RE GOOD IF YOU CAN GET ALL THE DIRT OFF CHARLIE!” Thoughts of a Girl Superfluous Traveling LERK: We have some very nice GSH I wonder if I’m on the right oatmeal soap to-d train heavens what on earth did Mrs. Younosrive: No, thanks. I do with my ticket I wonder if it's We never wash our oatmeal. in my bag what if Johnny shouldn't meet me gosh what a fix I'd be in if we didn’t meet I wonder if that man over there is trying to pick me up the impudent thing gosh I wish this skirt would stay down it is frightfully short when I cross my legs but what's the diff it’s the style and my legs are rather good at that but I think he’s got an awful nerve to keep star- ing that way heavens I forgot all about looking for that damned ticket if it’s not in my bag what'll I do here comes the conductor I'll bet I’m on the wrong train any- ways I simply know that man is trying to pick me up well he’s rather nice-looking any- ways gosh I wish this skirt would stay down... . Lloyd Mayer. Malicious Mischief HE inebriate in the re- volving door was going round and round. There’s Life in the Old Suit Yet! FIND bills from various tailors (I am always dunned; my trailers . Seem to fancy that my money grows on trees) ; : Also several little pencils, an assort- ment of utensils, Such as openers and pocket knives and keys. There's addresses roughly scribbled, and a chocolate bar half-nib- bled, That has thawed and left the pock- et in a mess; There is half a box of matches that are quite immune from scratches, And a thousand other objects, more or less. But the end of my inspection of this curious collection Sends my head aloft in boundless realms sublime— And my joy exceeds all measure—if I find a little treasure Like a_ long-forgotten, slender silver dime. Carroll Carroll. Journalistic Portraits Henry L. Mencken E is a fierce fellow who works feverishly at dis- liking the Methodists till three o'clock every morning, except Tuesdays and Frid. when he dislikes the Baptists. He commutes from Balti- more to edit the Mercury, a magazine found in the desk drawer of every good Ro- tarian. He was joint editor of the Smart Set when it was smart. He sees as many things to disturb him as Glenn Frank and writes about them in a vocabulary larger than Percy Hammond's. He is the Dr. Frank Crane of the intelligentsia. He is orthodox only on the subject of medicine, and on that he waxes Kiwanian. He can take a drink or let “Hey, you, whatsa mat- Nervous Lady (to window washer): on, MisTER, — it alone, ter?” called the doorman. HADN’T YOU BETTER WEAR A BELT? He is an editorial writer “Fellow ahead of me musta Window Washer (politely): No; suspENDERS Does who has turned professional. tore tha phone off tha wall!” VERY NICELY, MA’AM. McC. H. comicbooks.com my