Life, 1927-05-05 · page 34 of 46
Life — May 5, 1927 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page compiles brief satirical quips and cartoons mocking contemporary foibles. Key targets include: **Political references**: The "To a Dictator" poem alludes to fascism's rise (mentioning "black shirts"), likely referencing 1930s Mussolini or Hitler. **Social satire**: Multiple items mock American pride and pretension—a Chicago man's rudeness about *The New Yorker*, unnecessary formality in speech, and a newly-arrived Black newspaper editor's awkward mimicry of white editorial language ("Us sho' feels grateful"). **Institutional humor**: Academic professors blaming parents for student misconduct; corrupt justice systems; workplace incompetence. **The cartoons**: Simple line drawings illustrate these scenarios—a woman with a man, someone at a drafting table, figures stacking papers. The overall tone is lightweight social commentary typical of *Life*'s satirical approach: observing human vanity, pretension, and bureaucratic absurdity across class and national lines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Foolis Daughter of Old Lady: suv’s certixo werrer “Aut Scissors aut Nullus” To a Dictator Iw spite of peace or passion, Of styles still have a care; Black shirts go out of fashion Like other kinds of wear. —Washington Star. The Guilty Parties A proressor, coming to one of his classes a little late, found a most uncomplimentary caricature — of himself drawn on the board, ‘Turn- ing to the student nearest him, he angrily inquired: “Do you know who is responsible for that atrocity “No, sir, I don't,” replied the student, “but I strongly suspect his parents. —M. I. T. Voo Doo. x policemen were killed in the Solomon Islands recently while trying to arrest a criminal. ‘There is talk of making the place an hon- orary Chicago.—Punch. EVERY DAY}; GOING TO LIVE TO BE A CENTIPEDE, MNT YER, MOTHER? Old Lady: you wovutwy’t say so IF Ye MY FEE —George Belcher, in The Tatler (London). Stop Him!) A cornesroxpent notes that a man in Chicago ran over a girl while driving to a hall where he was to give a lecture on “Public Si and suggests that he be- gin his address to the Judge with: “Un- accustomed as I am to public speed- ing...” —New York Evening Post. The Cities Are Full of Pride Unwecessaniny rude was the Chi man who referred in print the other d to a weekly magazine “called the > Yorker, of New York, N.Y." ‘ansas City Star. “Dors she have her own way much?” “FIL say she does! She writes up her diary a week ahead of time.” —North Carolina Buccaneer. Stone Age Author: ww THeY nesect THESE MA’ ‘SCRIPTS, I CAN BUILD A MOUSE ANYWAY, —Kasper (Stockholm). “Wirat a pretty stenographer! Has she any references?” “Who care: —Louisville Courier-Journal. KE THAT?” REMEMBER “wity DORs ie Lan THEME 1 “MAYBE E'S TRYING T SOMETHING —Séndagsnisse-Striz (Stockholm). The Editorial Us A Neono started a newspaper in Ala- bama. He had noticed how white editors used the word “we” for “I,” so he went them one better when he said: “Us sho’ feels grateful fo’ all de good things dat’s been said "bout us’s paper.” —Florida Times-Union. There Ain't No Justice Jvvce: Guilty or not guilty of this charge of murder? Prisoner: None of yer business! rty days—contempt of cour! —Collier’s, “Witat have you got in that valise?” “Nothing of the sort, officer.” —Dartmouth Jack-o'-Lantern, Wuew Bolshevism isn't a menace it’s an alibi—Philadelphia Public Ledger. ontemporaries A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLock —London Opi By Volume “Trey sell ‘Ford Ideals’ at the new Ford markets,” writes Dudley Nichols he books looked all alike, but one stack was marked § and the other $1, “What, [ asked the clerk, ‘is the dif- ference? “‘Naturally, he said as he passed out the dollar edition, ‘you get twenty-five cents’ worth more of ideals.” —New York World. Tired Nature's Sweet Restorer Bits. had been having trouble with one of the native crew on his bé le-mer cutter, “Damn it all, Yarrie,” he said, “do you want to loaf all the time?” “No, boss, I want sleep sometimes? was the reply. —Bulletin (Sydney). No Hurry A parxey just rapped at the door to inquire about washing the windows. “When do you want to clean them?” be was asked. “Yo suit your significance,” he replied —which seems quite fair enough. —O. O. M., St. Louis Globe-Demoecrat. Young man, age 21, married, 2. children, 3 work of any kind; not a work; can explain’ reason.’ te Times. Th there, young man—we under stand.—New Yorker. Accessory after the fact: centennial postage stamp. —Toledo Blade. A. Sesqu “THAT LITTLE CHAP AT THE BACK DON’T SEEM TO BE DOIN’ MUC! PRAPS IE's JUST A STOWAWAY.” —Bystander (London). comicbooks.com