Life, 1927-06-02 · page 44 of 46
Life — June 2, 1927 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and book reviews**, not political satire. The left side features a hotel advertisement for Hotel Cleveland, emphasizing its modern conveniences and friendly service at $3/night rates. The center contains "Life and Letters," a book review section discussing Mrs. Philip Lydig's "Tragic Mansions"—a memoir about wealthy families whose money brought unhappiness. The reviewer is satirical about Lydig herself: she writes moralistically about the corrupting effects of wealth while simultaneously selling her own valuable antiques (Queen Anne silver, Chippendale chairs) at a loss. The critic also mocks the book's use of pseudonyms for real people, comparing readers to myopic theater-goers without spectacles. There's sardonic commentary that ordinary people would gladly risk "a little corruption" for such wealth. The right side shows various advertisements (cruise ships, shopping, indigestion remedies). The satire targets wealthy memoir-writers who critique wealth's moral dangers while profiting from their own possessions—a form of hypocrisy Life's readers would recognize.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4 Life Welcome CHlo™ CLEVE- LAND is a friendly place. Of course it has all the conveniences and refinements you properly expect of the most modern hotel in a city, but —what we believe is more important —it has a hearty, genuine welcome for every guest,and an honest desire to see to it that you have a comfortable, thoroughly enjoy- able stay here. Hotel Cleveland is conven- sent to all parts of the city. Every room with private bath. Servidor service; floor clerks. Room rates begin at $3. HOTEL )TEVELAND °@ Life and Letters Harvey O'HIGGINS'S intro- duction to Mrs. Philip Lydig’s new book will probably leave you weak from laughter, but if you can summon the strength to pursue the text of “Tragic Mansions” (Boni § Liveright), you will learn, along the lines of personal reminiscence, that money not only isn’t everything, but that it has, in many conspicuous instances, been a distinct detriment to the happiness of its possessors, A line of Dorothy Parker's comes cruclly to mind in this connection: “Laugh the butcher off with that.” In fact, the force of Mrs. Lydig’s moral would be considerably greater if she had not, this very week, sold her Queen Anne silver and Chippen- dale chairs for much less than they were worth, The horrible examples of the fashionable rich which are pointed out in “Tragic Mansions” are said to be taken directly from real life, but inasmuch as they appear under assumed names, the reader is some- what in the position of the myopic gentleman who found himself at the theatre without his spectacles. In view of the sensational revelations (which, being translated, means the dirt that is dished), the anonymity of the cast is little short of disgust- ing. Here is a sample passage: “It was much more fun to climb the four flights of awful stairs to dine with her and her husband and their two little boys than it had ever been to visit them in the days of their mag- nificence.. ..She served the simplest of dinners with good taste, helping the maid-of-all-work in the kitchen, a cigarette in her mouth, and letting you j her in preparing the food while she laughed and chatted.” Of course, maybe somebody will believe it. The trouble with the majority of Mrs, Lydig’s friends to whom afflu- ence brought such misery seems to have been dimwittedness. How many of us would be glad to have some of the cash and risk a little cor- ruption! ‘OTHER book of recollections which is more diverting and to the point is “The Girl from Ree- tor’s”, by George Rector (Double- day, Page). The author plays up the high-light incidents and glamour- ous patrons of the famous restaurant which he and his father owned, and the very fact of his explaining the points of all his jokes seems but a corollary of the courtesy with which they ran their establishment. He gives you the formulas for some of their most celebrated dishes, he tells 5) BP A restful and exhil- arating 2,200 mile trip over beautiful waterway withal- luring scenery en route. Drive around historic Mackinae Island, see the Indians at Canadian village of Parry Sd. Take the sight-seeing bus at Detroit and Chicazo. See Cleveland —spend a full day at Buffalo. Gaze in wonder at Niagara Fails, the world’s greatest cataract. The Big Oil-Burning White Liners North American od South American offer you an experience similar to that of an ocean age —comfortable berths or parlor room: deck or join in the gaicty as you prefer. Music. Danc: ing, Entertainments, Games and a Social Hostess to introduce you. A voyage of invigoration, recreation and education combined; a different kind of vacation. Semi-Weekly Sailings between Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo Ask for illustrated pamphict at any Ra! ‘Ticket Office or Tourist Agency or wr Chicago, Duluth & Georgian Bay mpany ‘W. H. BLACK, G. P. A. W. E. BROWN, Gen'l Agt. 110 W.Adams St.,Chicago, Ill. 13 S, Division St.,Baffalo, N.Y, and the exhaustion, faintness, nav- and dizziness caused by travel motion. Journey by Sea, Train, Car, Auto or Air in perfect comfort with Mothersill's. 2 73. & $1.30 at Drug Stores or direct The Mothersill_ Remedy Co., Ltd. re oe 6 BELLANS ? | Hot water Sure Relief ELL-ANS FOR INDIGESTION 25¢ and 75¢ Pkg's. Sold Eve comicbooks.com