Life, 1927-03-17 · page 14 of 43
Life — March 17, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains social satire about early 20th-century urban life. The top cartoon mocks wealthy Mrs. Mulcahy, who flaunts her husband's illegally-obtained wealth ("contracting" for the city), while the dialogue suggests hypocrisy—she's taking "bread out of honest people's mouths" by profiting from corruption. The section "Parties Like This" satirizes a socialite's obsession with hosting fashionable gatherings, with her male companion mocking her priorities. The bottom cartoon, "Up-to-Date Irish Jaunting Car," humorously depicts an Irish-themed vehicle, likely poking fun at ethnic stereotypes popular in that era. The "Relativity" section presents a joke about changing hotel room sizes across decades (1908, 1918, 1928)—commentary on shrinking accommodations or inflation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“THERE GOES MRS. MULCAHY, FLAUNTIN’ THE WEALTH HER HUSBAND MADE CON- TURACTE “SURE AN’ SHE OUGIIT TO BE ASIIAM “RO THE city.” —TAKIN’ THE BREAD OUT OF HONEST PEOPLE’S MOUTHS AN’ PUTTIN’ IT ON HER OWN BACK.” HE: I simply lore parties like ‘ this where everybody just sort of gets up informally and docs things, don’t you? Yes, they're great, aren't why don’t you get Lydia to do the ack Bottom? He: Somebody just asked her and she said she wouldn't for the world —too many people here, Sue: Oh, gosh—can’t you per- suade her? Well, anyways, why don’t you get Ted Moofy to do that raming clog dance of his? : I asked him about five min- utes ago and he said aobody here knew the music for it. Sue: Well, why doesn’t he just get upanddoanything? He: I dunno.... Sue: I tell you, my dear—you get up and tell the crowd that simply marvelous story about the Trishmen. He (in terror): Parties Like This I—oh, heavens, no—I couldn't pos- e all heard that one, .-Look here, though—why don’t you and John Wetsmacker dot “Bowery Hesitation”? You the one you did in the Junior League show—it was a wow! Sue: Oh, I couldn't possibly—I'd be embarrassed to tears—besides, he steps on my fect. He: Well, this would be a great UP-TO-DATE IRISH JAUNTING CAR. party if somebody would just get up and do something. s (enthusiastically): Yes, 1 think parties like this are simply great! Lloyd Mayer. Relativity 1908 ITY WOMAN (looking over sum- mer hotel): What a tiny band- box of a bedroom! Impossible! 1918 City Woman (seeing same room): This room is rather cramped. I, it might be smaller. 1928 City Woman (same room, same hotel): What a fine, large room! Why, it is as big as our living - room at home! comicbooks.com