Life, 1927-10-20 · page 31 of 48
Life — October 20, 1927 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces mocking American social and economic behaviors in the 1920s. **"Business Before Pleasure"** contrasts a Wall Street broker's casual dismissal of financial details ("stop bothering me with details") with his meticulous, anxious poker playing at home—revealing hypocrisy about what truly matters to him. **The radio joke** depicts a clergyman congratulating Mrs. Johnson on her new radio, only to learn her husband bought it with cash rather than installment credit—implying widespread consumer debt and the false status symbols of modern life. **"The Rambler"** column offers cynical observations: Prohibition has become so normalized it's no longer even debated; nations are already preparing for another war a decade after WWI; divorce has become fashionable among the masses, forcing the wealthy to stay married to appear exclusive; and New Yorkers receive special treatment abroad. The bottom cartoon shows a child asking if God is "nice," gently mocking religious instruction or parental piety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Fn AE Business Before Pleasure 10 a.m.—IVall Street sd O. that order, Miss Mu ¥ *Buy fifty thousand shares of Blah Hooey preferred at the market price. And, for Pete’s sake, stop bothering me with details.” 10 p.s.—At Home “A nickel raise, you said, Wally? Hmmm-mm. And before the driw. Looks bad. You must be mighty proud of something. Wisk I knew how many cards you are going to take. Well, my hand's not so weak and low itself. Hmmm-mm. A nickel up, the man said. Who was it that opened? You, Russ? Opened for a dime and Wally raised it a nickel. And Wally generally plays them pretty close to the belt, too. Remember a time he laid down three aces pat. Must have something real this time. Wait till I mix me a lit- tle snifter while I'm making up my mind. How many left in this hand? Did you drop, Andy wu did. How about you, Jim? You're out, too? Hmmm-mm. Well, that just leaves Wally, Russ and myself. Russ opened for a dime and Wally boosted it a nickel. That makes fifteen cents. And my. stack of white chips is getting pretty low, too. Hmmm-mm. Fifteen cents it costs for me to come in. Suppose you can be: couple of little pairs, can’t you, Wally? Ha-ha! I was just kidding. ‘No, I'm not giving away the strength of my hand—not by a Visiting Clergyman: coop EVENING, Mtns. JOUNSON. AM, I SER YOU HAVE INSTALLED A NEW RADIO SET. Mrs. Johnson: we wtave Not! Jim PAID DOWN GOOD CASH FOR IT. long shot. Maybe I've got a darned sight better than two little pairs. Maybe I'm going to stand pat and play these—what do you think of that? Wh ot a cigar? No, I'm not stalling for time. Let's see, I came in for the dime Russ opened it for and now Wally ups it a nickel That makes fifteen cents. Fifteen cents altogether. 7 Hmmm-mm. luck’s been running on that side of the table so far this Hmmm-mm. evening. Well, no use throwing I drop.” Tip Bliss. good money after bad BOUT all some boys learn at college is the three Rahs. Ruth (after saying her prayers) : Gov’s A NICE LADY; ISN'T SHE, MAMMA? 29 The Rambler ROHIBITION has reached the sad stage wherein it is no longer even conversation. We have still a year until the tenth anniversary of the Armistice, but I notice the nations already are choosing sides for the next war. gentleman has submitted to the “My Most Embarrassing Moment column of a tabloid his own unfor- tunate experience. He was seen reading the paper in question. Nowadays, a lady's male acquaint- ances take precedence in this order Her Friend; Her Suitor; Her Danc- ing Partner; Her Bridge Favorite; Her Barber; Her Husband “2. Divorce is now so much a pastime of the masses that there seems no re course for our aristocracy but to stay mnarried. After some travel about these United States, I am pleased to re- port that a New Yorker nearly everywhere is accorded the same privileges as an American citizen J. K. M. Heard at the Concert SN'T) that a viol ment?” “Oh, I don’t think it’s so bad.” accompani comicbooks.com