Life, 1927-03-24 · page 29 of 38
Life — March 24, 1927 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several brief satirical items typical of Life's humor format: **"Clean-up Week"** depicts a racial stereotype: a Black man with a mule on Governors Island is ordered to improve his appearance. The joke relies on the racist trope of Black workers being told to "spruce up," with the punchline being his promise to powder the mule's mane—playing on assumptions about poor grooming. **"The Poet"** mocks a poet complaining that high electricity rates force him to use candles at night, ironically calling fruits of sleepless nights "my lighting costs"—satirizing impoverished artists' financial struggles. **"Who Told You That?"** makes dark humor from a false fire alarm at a chimney fire, with the punchline questioning who reported it. **"Distanced"** contrasts American and Chinese perspectives: Americans joke about happiness while the Chinese pragmatically attribute strength to umbrella size—a cultural commentary. The page is primarily **satirical filler content** interspersed with period advertisements (Johnson Motors, Bachrach photography). The racial humor reflects the era's casual bigotry in mainstream publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Clean-up Week Cuanics Pixt Sawyer reports to us that Colonel Edward Croft recently launched a campaign to clean up Gov- emors Island and that one of the first to cone under the order was a Negro with a rickety wagon and a spavined mule. He was told to do a little sprucing and the next day appeared in a much improved state. Even the mule was cur- ried, ‘The colonel looked the animal over carefully. “Very good,” he said, “but why don't you roich his mane?” ° ght, boss,” came the reply. “I'll © powder to-morrow.” —New York Evening Post. In a Pinch, use ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE Who Told You That? The Poet: wit Tins TERRIBLE IN- y containing a spice of humour re- CREASE IN THE ELECTRICITY RATE, false alarm of fire comes from 27 Descriptive Dollars Ax Englishman, reading American accounts of our late storm, probably gets the impression that a $75,000,- 000 gale, reaching at times almost the proportions of a Ford fortune, raised $40,000,000 waves that were fully $1 000,000 higher than any recalled by the richest inhabitants; that the tides swept inland to a distance of nearly $3,000,- 000,000 in realty, and with the tempest came a snowfall estimated at $7,500,000, removal value; while rats driven from $1,000,000,000 piers by the $1,000,000,- 000 tides were exterminated at a cost of $600,000 for ammunition by persons whose aggregate incomes total not less than 4,868.09.—Brooklyn Eagle, Glass Ginger Ale with tablespoontul Abbott's Bitters htful tonie and palatable. Sample Bitters by mail, Seta in stamps. C. W. Abbott & Co., Baltimore, Md We understand that a chimney SHALL 1 HAVRE TO Usk THE rRUITS Distanced © at Globe-road took fire and dense OF MY SLEEPLESS { smoke were omitted.”"—Local Paper. \ ton Veny funny !—Punch. “Hero, Jim. How's the pursuit of NG Costs? happiness?” —Le Petit Bleu (Paris). “I can't keep up the pace.” J —Louisville Courier-Journal. A wan said to live in a fashionable New York hotel is charged with begging. A ovrst never knows how much to Ix China, the assumption is, the Al- Probably he had to. laugh at the family joke at the dinner — mighty is on the side of the biggest um- Edmonton (Alberta) Bulletin, _ table.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat. brellas.—Detroit News. published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, tain, Canada and British Possessio: Title registered in U.S. ¢. $5.00 a year in advance, tional postage to foreign the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents, Back nnot be supplied. d illustrations in Lire are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights opply to Live, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter C., England. The foreign trade supplied from Live's London Office, Rolls House, Breams_ Buildings, EC. Canadian distributor, ‘The American News Company, Ltd., 386-388 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada No contributions be returned unless accompanied by stamped and eddressed envelope. Live does not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior to the date of issue to be affected. WA KWAYS ARE NEW HIGHWAYS OF HAPPINESS <a is summer~ Y. Gnjoy HIS eummer—knowthe ourVacation Hours joy of motoring on the Alotoning on the Water water. Go where you can fol- 4 - - low any trail you might desire f through shady inlet or clear rippling stream. There is no sport like water motoring. As you hear the call of distant shores you answer, knowing full well that your Johnson will get there and back swiftly and safely. This year Johnson further en- hances its outstanding leader- industry with four motors that are marvels of mechanical per- fection. Revolutionary me chanical developments have greatly increased the power of all twins, If you are considering the purchase of an outboard motor, you owe it 10 yourself to see—or better, try one of these new Johnson Motors. Johnson dealers are prepared to sell you on easy payments, The new Johnson Aquaflyer (17-foot mahogany hull, with enclosed Big Twin—speed 18 m. p. h.) was the sensation of the New York Moto: Boat Show. JOHNSON MOTOR COMPANY, 930 Sample St., South Bend, Ind. Canadian Distributor: Peterborough Canoe Co, Peterborough, Ont.. Can. vision: 75 West Street Fite Posh FUSS A Jo. Cuthoart ay Motos GIVE MOTHER YOUR PORTRAIT ON MOTHER'S DAY THE EIGHTH OF MAY A BEAUTIFUL BACHRACH PORTRAIT WILL BE A PERMANENT MESSAGE OF YOUR LOVE AND ES- TEEM FOR HER—A MESSAGE THAT WILL GROW DEARER AND DEARER AS THE DAYS GO BY. SITTINGS MAY BE MADE ONLY UNTIL MONDAY, APRIL EIGHTEENTH. Bachrach Estasiisnco 1868 PHOTOGRAPHS OF DISTINCTION 507 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK comicbooks.com