Life, 1927-06-30 · page 5 of 35
Life — June 30, 1927 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes American business culture and attitudes toward leisure. The top cartoon mocks the stereotypical American businessman ("George F. Babbitt," referencing Sinclair Lewis's 1922 novel critiquing conformist business culture). The accompanying poem ridicules the "Americanized" businessman's mannerisms—his constant gum-chewing, his wealth, his misuse of English slang ("Furry," "Waal"). The "Soon" dialogue parodies complaints about shipboard noise from airplane engines, mocking wealthy Americans' inability to enjoy comfortable leisure without complaint. The bottom cartoon, "Our History, Chap. I: Columbus Sees America First," appears to be a humorous take on historical discovery, though its specific political reference is unclear from the visible text alone. Overall, the page satirizes American materialism, business-class pretension, and the inability of the wealthy to appreciate their own comfort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
O Liberty, Etc. Freddy: wer’Lt CRLEBRATE THE FOU: LIQUOR FIRST, AND THEN GO TO THE RTH OF JULY right! Let’s Get THE BLACK BOTTOM CONTEST AT HARRY’S. Portrait of the American Go-Getter a l’ Anglaise I HAVE never uttered cloying hymns of praise for the annoying Type of business man that we've developed here; Quite conversely, I’ve a habit of deriding George F. Babbitt Every place where I am lent an open ear. I'm unspeakably embarrassed (not to mention vexed and harassed) When I hear him make a Rotary address— But I do not know the creature they continually feature In the pictures of the English comic press. He always wears a pair of specs; The specs are always tortoise-shell; His speech is sprinkled with By Hecks And Goshes and By Gums as well. He always is a millionaire; His belly is an ocean’s span; He wants to buy the very air— This Anglicized Amurrican. You can hear my mirthful roar way overseas in Eastern Norway As I garner Babbitt’s views on life and art; And the sacred care he lavishes on his business simply ravishes Me: I cackle till my sides just ache to part. NOW DON'T FUSS OVER ME — | MADE THE TRIP PURELY IN THE mA Our History. COLUMBUS SEE: Is there anything so funny as his childish faith in money Or his counsel to young fellows in their ‘teens?... But I cannot throw a laugh at the poor freak the English chaff at In their novels and their humor magazines. He’s always pictured chewing gum; He slaps a duchess on the back; He cries, “Say, Queen, you sure got some Swell fixings in this little shack.” “Vurry” and “Waal” are words that he’s Forever using....I entreat: Oh, where may I find one of these To make experience complete? Simonetta. Soon “M*. dear, don’t take an outside stateroom!” “But every one tells me they're so comfortable and airy, and “They're airy, all right, but take it from me. I just came back on the Majestic, outside cabin, and I couldn't sleep a wink. Such noise!” “Noise?” “My dear, it was the airplanes—going back and forth, back and forth, all night!” WELCOME, COLLY —S6 Gtao You N <couto Get Here \ \On COLUMBUS Chap. I 8 AMERICA FIRST. comicbooks.com