Life, 1927-12-15 · page 11 of 40
Life — December 15, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American ignorance of tea culture and etiquette. The dialogue between "She" and "He" (appearing to be American tourists) and a British waitress mocks how Americans didn't understand English tea traditions—they don't know basic varieties (Ceylon, oolong, orange pekoe) or proper service customs. The cartoon below, captioned "You can imagine his embarrassment when the waiter addressed him in French," shows an American man flustered when a waiter speaks French to him, satirizing American travelers abroad who lack cultural sophistication or language skills. The "Browns" illustration depicts Christmas shopping excess. Overall, the page ridicules American provincialism, consumer materialism, and cultural ignorance when encountering European customs—common themes in early 20th-century Life magazine's humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life In the Tea Room SHE: Oh, Pm so glad Pim here. 1 tho make it. [ nearly died. You kno was in London last st mer I just simply can't live after 4:30 unless I have my tea. He: I hardly ever drink tea but—— Sue: My dear! How can you live without tea! Why, in London the men all go out for tea and the ones who don’t go out for tea make their tea right in their offices, and it’s so ght we'd never s ver since I cozy having tea in an office with a man. Not that I ever did have office in a tea—I mean tea in an office—with a man, but I should think it would be so cozy, don't you? He: I guess it would be nice. I don’t suppose you care to look at this? Sue: Oh, yes, I'm very fussy about what kind of tea I drink; for instance, one just) doesn’t drink English breakfast tea at tea. That's their break- fast tea, you know, and at tea they have India tea; but I prefer oolong, although I will drink orange pekoe if I have to. hey just scem to a here and no spe- kind. I'll ask the tress. Sue: Oh, no, I'll ask her. You American men are so awk- ward about tea. Now in London a man knows all about tea and just how to order it. Oh, here you are, Tell me, please, what kind of tea have you? Waitress: Tea per pot, tea per cup, tea with cream and tea with lemon. Sue: Isn't that just like us in the United Sts No, my dear; I what brands of tea have you? Wartress: We only have the very best brands of everything, madam, and everything is fresh from our own farms. He: You don’t understand. moiselle would like to know brands of tea—what flavor Wartress: We have hot chocolate. NATE: Would you like tolearn to ski? jump at the chance. KATE: Oh miss. Made- what The Browns, who believe in being thoroughly original, do their Christmas shopping. Sur: And they call this a tea room. Why, in London —oh, I wonder what that is that lady's ge tting Warrress: The tea madam wishes. There, I thought you would. And, oh, by the what is that that lady over at that table is—no, at table, that table—what is it she has? Wartress: That's our special butter-tinger delight with chocolate ice-cream and marrons. Sue: It looks delicious, doesn’t it? He: What kind of tea do you wish, my dear? Sue: IT think I'll take something else for You can bring me one of those butter-finger deli only please with pecan nuts instead of marrons. Wattress: Anything to manager says we have any kind of rch drink? Sur: Well, vou might bring me a fresh fruit lemon- ade, too, Tl have tea Carroll Carroll. * Fatal “+ OW did Miss Ferule come to lose her job in the schools? “It seems that told her pupils they ought Chicago to have more re He: No, no! Have you oolong, Ceylon, orange pekoe or what? Waitress: I'M ask the manager. You can imagine his embarrassment when the waiter addressed him in French. spect for the King’s English comicbooks.com