Life, 1927-04-07 · page 25 of 59
Life — April 7, 1927 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks tabloid journalism and dramatic domestic disputes of the era. Mrs. Egbert Pica, wife of a newspaper copy reader, delivers an over-the-top denunciation of her husband using sensationalist newspaper language—"VIVID HOOCH ORGIES," "DRAGNET," "OUSTER MOVE LOOMS"—the breathless, capitalized style typical of 1920s tabloids covering scandals. The satire targets two things: first, how newspapers sensationalize minor domestic quarrels into lurid crimes; second, how wives weaponized public scandal and "heart balm" suits (divorce lawsuits seeking damages) against husbands. The wife threatens police investigation, public humiliation, and legal action, speaking in exaggerated newspaper-ese rather than normal language. The joke is that she's adopted the melodramatic tone of the very publication her husband works for, turning their marriage into a tabloid story complete with "DRAGNET," "PERSECUTION," and threatened "CRIME" charges for what appears to be drinking.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Copy Reader’s Wife Goes Native “I DENOUNCE you, Egbert, AS THOUSANDS CHEER,”. CRIED Mrs. Egbert Pica, wife of the Searchlight’s copy reader, to her SPOU SE. ‘ “In fact,” she went on, “I will have the POLICE PROBE your VIVID HOOCH ORGIES AND BACCHANALIAN DEBAUCHES. An OUSTE R MOVE LOOMS in [, Egbert, though NEARS, ARK TRAGEDY y STALK you, Egbert, unless you IELD to the entreaties of this WED MOTHER and her TOT. You SLAY me, Egbert, though URGED BY FRIENDS to CAST OFF GRIEF and SUE FOR HEART BALM. “JILTED THEN, though I'd be, Egbert, I'd have done my MOTH- ER’S DUTY while you, ERRING SPOUSE, WOULD PACE SIDEWALKS OF NEWYORK WITH HEAD BOWED IN SHAME, “And when TRAPPED, Eg- bert following DRAGNET BY PC DOOR OF your LOVE CULT, I will be THRILLED. Your CRIME will be SOLVED after HUNT and, ROUTED, BEATEN, you'll BEG for RE- LIEF from MY DECREE. ‘PERSECU- Don’t Ask Me Another! Inquisitive Clara: (Answer on page 47.) PARDON ME, BUT COULD YoU NAME THE CHIEP EXPORT OF PORTUGAL? “PAMOUS CATHEDRAL, EM? WELL, SOPHIE, IT AIN’T MUCIT BIG SECOND PRESBYTERIAN BACK HOME—AND OURS HAS COPPER GUTTERS.” TION ALLEGED,’ will be your CRY, and my MISSION will have been ATTAINED. “It would be a PITY, Egbert, if we should CLASH IN JEALOUS FURY. But my last EDICT has been written, Egbert. It will not be SHELVED. Your DECISION is URGED.” Tom F. Barry. Here’s How OWARD: I only drink a cocktail on great occasions. Jay: What do you call great occasions? Howarp: When I drink a cocktail. No. 5 Announcement I HEREBY sstate_ the danger Who greets me with, a stranger!" man’s in “You're quite I give due warning to the party Who tells me Iam “lookitig hearty.” I'll say his days are brief and fleet- ing Who mentions meeting. “Coon’s Age” at our And his allotted span is up Who springs, “Since Hector was a pup.” But instantly prepare a bier For him who chortles, “Look who's here!” A.M. S., Jr. comicbooks.com