Life, 1927-04-14 · page 13 of 38
Life — April 14, 1927 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several humorous sketches satirizing American social customs and domestic life, likely from the 1920s-30s era based on style and references. **"He Must Have Had Some Purpose in Writing It"** mocks Sinclair Lewis's literary ambitions through a dialogue questioning whether his novel "Elmer" has real meaning or is merely an attack on clergy hypocrisy. **"Helping Mother"** depicts a woman getting a tobacco-coupon premium, joking that she could obtain five daughters' worth of goods—commentary on consumer culture and large families. **"Manners and Customs"** describes an urban family relocating to the countryside with modern entertainment (radio, phonograph, saxophone) but finding country life unexpectedly preferable to city noise. The remaining sections contain brief domestic humor and wordplay typical of the era's satirical magazine format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“He Must Have Had Some Purpose in Writing It!’’ HE: Have you read this “Elmer” Something by Sinclair Lewis? He: Yes, I have. Site: Well, so have I—but what I can't vnderstand is just what he’s driving at, can you? He: Well, of course, it’s an ar- raignment of the hypocritical clergy as typified by: Sie: Oh, of course—I know that, but I just sort of can’t understand what his idea is. He: Well, of course, Lewis loves to attack things. Sue: Yes, I suppose What did he attack before? He: Well, didn’t you read “Main nd “Babbitt”? Oh, did Sinclair Lewis write those things? : Yes, you know he made his reputation on “Main he does. DRY MARTINIS. Main Street where? : Well, you see, “Main Street” was the name of this first novel of his that was a great success, Sire: Well, of course I must have read it but is it any- thing like this “Elmer” thing? He: Well, it’s in the same sort of style, of course. Sie: I suppose it is, isn’t it? But, gosh, I'd like to know what he is really driving at in this “Elmer” thing because I suppose he must have had some purpose in writing it, don’t you really think he had? Lloyd Mayer. Helping Mother ESS: Mrs. Wright got the loveliest premium for tobacco coupons. Motuer: Did she? daughters. Well, so could I, if I had five G IVE the younger generation enough rope and it will keep on skipping. “WELL, MARY, I GOT THAT RAZE.” The Fair Hostess: 1 HOPE you L I WANTED TO GIVE UP some- thing DURING LENT SO I DECIDED TO SWEAR OFF FRUIT JUICE. Manners and Customs HE city chap moved out into the country to get some quiet. He took along his radio, however, to help pass dull time away. His wife had the player piano and phonograph shipped, of course, and his oldest boy took along the sax, the uke, and a banjo. His little girl pleaded for her music box, so that was also packed. The maid insisted on her guitar and the handy man took his fiddle. Yet, after living two months in the country, the city chap made every one happy by declaring they would move back to town. “Too quiet nounced simply. The rest of the household agreed with him. J. A. S. here,” he an- Elective Call ER: So yo’ new husban’ is is he, Mandy? Manpy: Lazy? Ah’'ll say he’s lazy. Dat man been out back o” de bahn sawin’ wood all mawnin’ jes’ to git outen goin’ to de stoah to git me a loaf o’ bread. “woman, how come you lay em hard derlk?; ' "I fancy ec my Preparedness ON the strength of a report that athletic relations with Harvard are to be resumed shortly, Princeton is said to be teaching the principles of water- polo to a man-eating shark. This move is calculated to offset Har- vard’s advantage in having trained an octopus as left for- ward on its team. Don’t Ask Me Another! No. 4 Inquisitive Clara: WHAT IS HEROIN? (Answer on page 35) comicbooks.com