Life, 1927-07-28 · page 25 of 36
Life — July 28, 1927 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a humorous sketch satirizing rigid bureaucratic rules on a Viennese buffet-tram (a streetcar serving refreshments). The joke centers on a conductor who enforces nonsensical regulations: a passenger rings the "getting-off bell" to request tea, but the conductor insists someone must actually exit the car because the bell has been rung—disrupting the rules is forbidden. The satire mocks Austrian/European officialdom's obsession with procedure over common sense. When passengers question this absurdity, the conductor accuses them of "questioning the fundamentals of our system," suggesting bureaucrats hide behind inflexible rules to avoid accountability. The accompanying cartoons are brief social gags: one depicts a woman in practical business attire arriving at a fancy dress party (implying hypochondria or absent-mindedness); another jokes about installment-plan pricing ("wrestling plan—a dollar down, rest cash-as-you-go"). The overall effect ridicules how officials prioritize regulations over customer service and reason.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
he C- ed Lunch, Brothers, Lunch! iffee, lager are now ars run “Refreshments, includi heer, Ww and sandwich served on certain of the tr ning in Vienna.” London Amerers.) Scr The buffet-tram “Franz cl passenger has just come , Joseph. on board. THE CONDUCTOR: Ah, good morning, mein Herr. The ge dampfte Rinderbrust iy very good to: day Tur Passencer: No, thank you 1 will have a glass of beer, a mari nirte herring and a transfer: Anotuer Passencen: The coffee is very bad. A Tuirp Passencen: What can this you expect? The motorman tram is no cook. Tur Motorman: I heard what you said. Shall I stop the car and make fresh coffee, or shall I attempt to keep up to the running Hace Tur Passencers Tue Otnen Harr: No! (A lot of new customers entrain.) Tur New Customers: A beer! Two frankfurters! A schnitzel ind quickly. ‘Three beers! A roast duck with red cabbage! Tie Coxpvetor: One at a time, Watch your step and be careful with your forks. The car is very crowded. A Passencen: So it is. Lady, will you accept my roast ham? Tur Lavy: 1 thank you, sir, but I am on a diet. Tur Coxnpveror: That makes no difference. You will have to pay a cover charge, anyway. Tur Lavy: Then I will have a cup of tea. Tue Passencer: I shall ring the bell for you. Tur Connvctor: Ah, the bell rings. Who wants to get off? . Tur Passencen: Nobody. This lady wants a cup of tea. Tur Coxpvetor: That is not the cup-of-tea bell. That is the getting-off bell. Some one will have to get off. Tue Passexcern: Nobody wants to get off. Start the car. Tur Coxnpvetor: T cannot un til somebody gets off. Sir, did you ring the bell? & First Passenoer but IT do not wish to get off wish to ride to the Kursaal Tur Coxpvetor: Then you should not have rung the off bell. You cannot disrupt the rules. time ? es! please. ae “an BS ESV = J ae “HERE'S THAT MRS. FINNICK WITH HER OLD THIRD-HAND PLIVVER.” “WHAT, AGAIN ? DRIAG AKOUT Tur Passencen: Very 1. respect the rules. But in my mind I think not-nice things about you. Give me a transfer Tur Coxpveton: Sir, 1 gave you a transfer. Tur Passexcen: You did not give me a transfer. Tur Coxpveror: Sir, 1 did you a transfer. T gave you a small green transfer. ‘There i: a piece of it on your plate “WHAT WAS THE BIG SCANDAL AT Tilt PANCY DRESS PARTY LAST NiGiT? “AN ARTIST'S MODE “wenn? ARRIVED. “SIE WAS WEARING HER BUSINESS SUIT THAT WOMAN'S GET TING TO HE A REGULAR HYPOCHON THAT CAR Turk Passexcen: Heavens, was that a transfer? 1 thought it was a lettuce sandwich 1, either, Tire Coxpveton: Will you please yet off? Tur Passencer: Wait, | have at idea. If T get off, may T get right back on again? Tir Conpveror Have It was not very enough to do without entering abstract questions of conduct? Tur Passencen: Wait! ‘T al. Let nin. sounds perfectly le t and get on a Tie Passencer: In wh Im It as well stay where I What! ng Conpvetor Tur Passencers: What! What! What! Tue Conpvetor: You are not content to get off and get back on? You are quest fundament Tur Pas x the funda of our NGERS questioni the system. Pur Coxpveror: Gentlem: in which case 1 about time, too. thrown off Henry Wil am Hanemann A Long Time Between Installments SALESMAN: What) terms S) would you prefer? Customer: Oh, think Tl take it on the wrestling plan--a dollar down, and the rest eash-as te have NOME, politicians ou 1 price tag attaches comicbooks.com