Life, 1927-05-12 · page 39 of 43
Life — May 12, 1927 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Four-in-Hand Outrage"** is a humorous complaint about modern manufacturing. The author grumbles that four-in-hand neckties now stick stubbornly in shirt collars—a problem he blames on deliberate design by manufacturers pursuing "efficiency." He sarcastically contrasts this with corporate perks like rest-rooms and time clocks for employees, while workers suffer. The piece also vents about Prohibition being "foisted" on soldiers overseas, connecting necktie frustration to broader post-WWI social grievances. **"Parade Pirate"** is an Australian military anecdote (from *Smith's Weekly*) about a doctor rewarding soldiers who tell original jokes during sick parade with bottles of liquor. When the last soldier claims he "can't see in the dark," he gets seven days off—but the final soldier admits he simply copied the complaint, pirating the joke. Both pieces reflect 1920s anxieties: consumer frustration with mass production and nostalgia for simpler times, alongside post-war soldier culture. The page is otherwise advertisements for shipping lines, Wrigley's gum, and Absorbine liniment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Four-in-Hand Outrage (Continued from page 9) bulging and temples distended, a ghastly sricature of my real self. Now this is a very strange thing to have happened in ten years, It can't be that I have forgotten how. It can't be that I have lost that amount of strength through loose liv- ing. It must be that some deliberate process has been adopted by the manufacturers to prevent four-in- hands from slipping under collars. What their idea can be is a mystery. You'd think they would want to make things as easy for their patrons as possible. But no! Modern business eficiency, I suppose! The manufac- turers were in conference, I suppose! Rest-rooms for their women employ- ees...oh, yes! Time clocks, charts, paper drinking-cups...oh, yes! But collars that hold ties immovable, and ties that stick in collars, That's what we get. That's what the Public gets. Prohibition was foisted on our boys while they were overseas, and while I was wearing soft collars the Powers-That-Be were putting the devil into stiff ones, so that when I come back to wearing them again I strangle myself to death, A fine civilization, I must say! Parade Pirate Aut Diggers [Anzacs] who belonged to the fragments from France crowd at Perham Downs have kindly recollections of Dr. Hagenhaur, the M.O. He ar- rived on sick parade one morning to find the same old crowd waiting. He lined them up and told them that to the man who could tell him something origi- nal in yarns he would give seven days no duty. ‘There was a bottle on the table, and as each man made his attempt he was directed to take one as a consola- tion prize. Bluey and Darkey were the teo last. Bluey came up blinking. “What's your trouble" “Me ‘s, sir.” “What's wrong with your “T can't see in the dark, sir. “Then take seven days off duty.” Turning to Darkey: “What's wrong with you?” “I feel faint, sir. “What makes you feel faint? “The cow in front pirated my com- plaint.” They went on leave together. —Smith’s Weekly (Sydney). Inference Finst Sreancer: There's a tremen- Gous lot of wickedness in the world. Stcoxp Staaxcrr: And how did you leave things in Chicago? —Boston Transcript. Eorton (at home, to wife): That'll do, Maria! The Editor's decision is final —Dublin Opinion, Get a Kick from its cool fresh flavor of mint leaves. op Cleansing and soothing to mouth and throat. ENGLAND FRANCE IRELAND: GERMANY. Hamburg-American Line Plan to visit Europe this year and go by Hamburg-American Line. The experience gained through cighty years of serving the public has devel- oped travel comfort that is unsur- passed. A service and cuisine thatare world famous. De Luxe Steamers NEW YORK (New) + HAMBURG ALBERT BALLIN - DEUTSCHLAND RESOLUTE + RELIANCE Cabin Steamers CLEVELAND - THURINGIA - WESTPHALIA All modern oil-burning liners. Luxurious staterooms lounges, spacious decks. Winter Garden ballroom and other attrac- tive features on the de luxe steamers. Com- fort and spaciousness on the cabin steamers, @Aronnd xtWorld S. S. RESOLUTE Eastward from New York Rates $2,000 up io the Land of the “Midnight Sun from Hamburg S.S. RELIANCE —July 3 S. S. RESOLUTE —July 17 Duration 23 dayse HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE Unereo Aucraican Liv, Inc, General Agents 28 Broadway, New York Branches in Boston Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco Or Lexal Steamship or Tourist Agents After Every Meal muscles prompt relie At all DRUGGISTS $1.25 Send for free trial bottle W.F.YOUNG, Inc., Springfield, Mass comicbooks.com