Life, 1927-07-07 · page 5 of 42
Life — July 7, 1927 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a "Rhymed Review" titled "Read 'Em and Weep" by Sigmund Spaeth, critiquing old songs and nursery rhymes. The accompanying illustration shows a man in casual attire sitting on what appears to be an airplane or vehicle, with another figure visible above. The poem humorously laments the loss of traditional songs—referencing titles like "The Wee Pig's Tail," "Captain Jinks," and "The Fatal Wedding"—suggesting modern entertainment has displaced these old favorites. The caption quote about "Kelly-Springfields" (a tire brand) indicates the illustration is likely satirizing modern advertising's intrusion into everyday life. The overall message critiques how contemporary commercial culture has replaced traditional folk entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Read 'Em and Weep By Sigmund Spaeth. Doubleday, Page & Co. TPHOSE dear old tunes, I knew them well, As Hamlet once Yorick; I read ‘em, and I weep to tell The world that I am prehistoric. remarked of My forbears taught me “Not for Joe” And “Shoo Fly";—though my soul regrets them, So ancient are the chants I know That even Sigmund Spaeth for- gets them. “The Wee Pig's Tail” I seek in vain In our compiler’s tuneful salad, And “s “Whoa, plaintive strain, 1 Jinks,” that mar- lad? Emma !"— No matter; Dr. Spaeth atones By setting down in proper places “The Fatal Wedding,” “Casey “The Lone Fish-Ball” and “Camp- town Races.” What lays of lyrists laurel-crowned We've carolled through uncounted seasons, What songs of babies lost and found, Of fractured hearts and lovers’ treasons! We've sung of foaming mugs of beer, Of rivers bright and woodlands bosky; We've wailed, “If Jack Were Only Here!" We've bellowed, “Throw Him Down, McCloskey !" What folk songs, coon songs, city songs We've vocalized with one another, What doleful tales of wrongs, What melting chords of home and mother! maidens’ While murmuring lips and tear- dimmed eves Review a century of singing, I wonder what we'll harmonize This ar to set the welkin ring- Arthur Guiterman Out Our Way Every pleasant eveni lubricated porch swi ne of the un- in this neigh- horhood says, as plainly as if in so many » at interv ow you stop! minute: Ohio State Journal. nd his motor are soon started.—Toronto Telegram. Sometimes a fool Ae UELLLOW/ we NO” Z = - yo “Boy, it certainly is hot! I hope your tires will stand it; I'm not hankering to do any changing in this sun.” “You won't have to—these are Kelly-Springfields.” comicbooks.com