Life, 1927-03-31 · page 12 of 35
Life — March 31, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains humorous sketches and jokes satirizing early 20th-century social conventions. **Top section** ("The Well-Dressed Man Reports a Holdup"): A conversation between a mugging victim and a police officer. The joke satirizes vanity—the victim describes his assailant's clothing in meticulous detail (sweater, footgear, neckpiece, cap) while providing almost no useful identifying information about his actual appearance or features. This mocks men obsessed with fashion over substance. **Other sketches** include domestic humor and social commentary on courtship and gender relations, typical of Life's satirical style. The cartoons rely on visual exaggeration and witty dialogue to mock contemporary attitudes about dress, social propriety, and masculine vanity—themes central to Life's audience of educated, upper-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 Life The Well-Dressed Man Reports a Holdup to a Well-Dressed Cop NOP: Can you describe your assail- ant? Man: I can, limbed look. What about his features? n: His features were covered with a smart black mask. Cor: And his complexion? Man: Modishly bronzed. Cop: Was he well turned out? Man: Yes, but in the sporting manner, His trou- sers were held up by a single suspender button. Cop: Were they without the usual crease? Man: They were, and showed a tendency to bag at the knees. Cop: Then he was He had a clean- Angry Father: weit, youna EXPLAIN YOURSEL. WHERE YOU BEEN ALL NIGHT? Flapper Daughter: ou, vavpy pEaR, 1 WAS SITTING UP WITH THE SICK SON OF THE SICK MAN YOU ARE ALWAYS TELLING MAMMA YoU SAT UP witit! LaDy, |< HAVE ~ in informal loitering togs, I take it. Man: Yes, with a able sweater- stcoat woven to stand rough usage. Cop: What about his footgear? Man: His footgear was of correct sim- plicity and on the old army last. Cor: And how was his personal linen? Man: His personal linen vy from immaculate. His shirting : a striped flannel creation with a de- tachable celluloid collar. Sor: In quiet good taste, I imagine. Don’t Ask Me Another! No. 4 Inquisitive Clari STATE WAS KNOWN BAMA BEFORE TILE INVEN- TION OF J (Answer on page 30) hair; . Adores you! : A conservative black string : cravat. Cor: With anything to match? Man: Yes, with hose and ‘kerchief to match. Cor: And what completed his ensemble? No danger Pick up yo! Man: A cap worn non- chalantly — over eye completed his ensemble. It added a_ distinctive touch, Cor: And how was he armed? Man: He affected the inevitable blackjack and automatic pistol which he carried with an air of in- = Souciance, + Cor: Ah, Then by * your description it was “Bum” Hodgers who held you up. But never fear. We'll search the clubs and saloons and we'll have your spats back in a jiffy. Good day, sir, good day. wl. one “CouLD 1 Scott. Appropriate ILLIS: Is it the male or the female kangaroo that has the pouch? Guus: Male, I suppose. The female probably carries a cigarette case. Bore ( now; story. Frir: Lines to Be Inscribed on a Collar Button Y lord, Commends the lustre of your whene’er a lady fair r spats; admires your hat, Or compliments on this and that Of your attire, be quite at case; lurks ip such as these. But when she readjusts your tie, ur dogs, my lord, and fly! Ger WITH KISSING Yo! “PRY AND GET AWAY Wititout KISSING Me!” Good Opportunity telling long story): Wait I'm getting ahead of my . Fine. Why not rest for an hour, then, and give it a chance to catch up? comicbooks.com