Life, 1927-04-21 · page 8 of 39
Life — April 21, 1927 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"To a Literary Gold Mine"**: A poem mocking *The American Mercury* magazine by attacking it with period insults ("dumbbell," "jackass," "boob"). The satire targets the publication's intellectual pretensions. 2. **"The Man Who Writes French Composition Books Takes Up Golf"**: A humorous numbered monologue where a pedantic French teacher applies his overly-analytical teaching style to golfing, creating absurd situations (striking balls 100 times, losing his ball). The joke is professional overcomplication of a simple recreational activity. 3. **"The Short End"**: A comedic telephone conversation where a woman tries ending a relationship without directly saying so, using indirect hints while the man remains oblivious. 4. **"Intimate Portraits"**: Cartoon sketches of exaggerated figures for publicity purposes. The overall theme emphasizes human awkwardness and social miscommunication through humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Father: AFRAID) A HORSE WOULD BE RATHER EXPENSIVE. The Angel Child: put, vav, WE MIGHT PICK UP A GOOD USED ONE. The Man Who Writes French Composition Books Takes Up Golf (I ) ALTHOUGH I have practiced, my game is not good. (2) The second hole was worse than the first hole, and the third hole was the most bad. (3) I have struck my golf ball over one hundred times. (4) The grass near the fourth hole is long and very beautiful. (5) I have lost there my white ball with the pretty dots, (6) While I am hunting for it my The Constant Dub No. 2 WHEN INDULGING IN WINTER SPORTS, HE MAKES A VERY LUDI- CROUS SPECTACLE OF HIMSELF partner is angry. (7) No, I have no more golf balls. (8) Have you found my golf ball, caddy (9) Yes, here it is under thi tle stone in the sand. (10) Give me my iron and then give me my niblick too. (11) See, I have struck the ball, and it is in the lake. (12) I think I shall not play golf again because I am tired. (13) I shall go to the church the next Sunday. W. W. Scott. The Ten Command- ments, Revised, Psy- chologized, and Brought Up-to-Date I HAVE exact fare * ready. II. Stop. III. Go. IV. Drive slow. V. No parking. VI. No smoking. VII. Keep off the grass. VIII. Step lively, youse! Put coin in slot. . Walk, do not run, to the nearest exit. To a Literary Gold Mine (4fter Reading Two Pages of “Th, American Mercury”) DUMBBELL, yokel, goof anj sap, Fathead, simpleton and silly, Imbecile and dolt and yap, ~ Hanswurst, pantaloon, hill-billy, Never mine to scorn or flout you— Where would Mencken be withost you? Pickle-herring, jackass, dope, Idiot, dinkelspiel, and noodle, Boob, boloney, half-wit, mope, Fool, gorilla, nut, hansdoodle, If it were not for your dizziness Nathan would be out of business! D’Annunzio Cohen, The Short End (Comments of a lady trying to bring a telephone conversation to a clo without actually saying, “For pity’s sake, hang up!”) “TS that so! The idea! Yes. No, The id How funny. Well... No, I didn’t. No, I'm sorry. Is that so! You don’t say, That's right So I heard. Yes, so she told me. Uh, huh. No. Not at all. Well... The idea! Well, good-b... What? No, I have a date. It was so nice of you. The idea! She did? Is that so! No. Well... Well... Thanks. Well... Yes, Io am. I'm sorry. Well... Yes, I will. Surely. Yes. Not at all. Well... Well... I certainly will. Yes. Good-b... Yes. Good-by !” A. H.P, Intimate Portraits BABE RUTH MAKES READY FOR THE PUBLICITY SEASON, comicbooks.com