Life, 1927-04-21 · page 7 of 39
Life — April 21, 1927 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces about the Chinese Front during what appears to be early WWI (dated April 1919): 1. **"The Constant Dub"** (top left cartoon): A golfer doesn't know the difference between a bisque and a divot—satirizing upper-class ignorance. 2. **"Behind the Chinese Front"** (main article with illustration): Reports American gunboats attacked by Chinese rebels; includes anecdotes about Western civilians caught in disturbances, including Mr. Blemmish's family encountering Chinese nationalists. 3. **"Sporting Taxi Driver"** (right illustration): A taxi driver trapped in a street excavation appeals to passengers for help—likely satirizing urban chaos or indifference. 4. **"A Bootlegger's Ransom"** (bottom): Brief dialogue about bootlegging profits, likely referencing Prohibition-era black market activity. The page satirizes both foreign conflicts and domestic American social issues.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
L a Behind the Chinese Front (By Lire’s Special War Correspondent) SHANGHAI, April 7 (by camel express)—The American gunboats, Bevo, Virginia Dare and Whistle, have been the subject of outrages lately by parties of Chinese rebels. The rebels row up under the bows of the gunboats in the dark and throw whole pack- ages of lighted fire- crackers on their decks, Lieutenant- Commander Mc- Cracken of the Bevo, sixteen and pretty, has issued a statement de- claring that it takes the entire morning watch to clear up the litter and has petitioned Washington to permit retaliation by shelling the na- tive quarter. The matter is being officially investigated, it is said. oe The Constant Dub No. 1 ASA GOLFER, HE DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BISQUE AND A pIvoT—— Fu-kien, April 8 (by stationary balloon)—Chinese rebels of this city have committed an outrage upon Mr. Adnock .!. Blemmish of Stout’s Gap, Mo., his wife and daughter Myrtle, sixteen and pretty. Mr. Blemmish and family, sightseeing in the Street of the Imitation Cloisonné Ware, were suddenly surrounded by a group . “WHERE'S THER CHECKERS, LUKE?” YOU FELLERS GIT ON WITH POLITICS FER A WHILE— THERE'S TOO DURNED MUCH OVEREMPHASIS ON ATHLETICS THESE pays!” Sporting Taxi Driver (at edge of street excavation, to the drivers behind him): 1’ve Lost MY PASSENGER IN THIS SAND TRAP. WILL YOU GENTLEMEN PLEASE PLAY THROUGH? of the Nationalist party. Upon being asked, “Well, what are you of lousy Chinks looking at, hey?” by Mr. Blemmish, the Chinese, sixteen and pretty, Mr. Blemmish alleges, laughed. 8 # Nanking, April 11 (by yak train)—An outrage was committed upon the Reverend Elmer Norbutt early this morning by Chinese priests who forcibly entered his house and removed therefrom an eleventh century bronze statue of Buddha which they alleged belonged to their temple. Dr. Norbutt states that in visiting the temple last week he had dropped it in the pocket of his coat, as he considered it both necessary and desirable to him in the carrying-on of his work. Henry William Hanemann. A Bootlegger’s Ransom ERRY: I hear Derry made a fortune in one big deal. Ferry: So he did. He got hold of a carload of pre-war corks. comicbooks.com