Life, 1928-01-05 · page 28 of 34
Life — January 5, 1928 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief humorous observations and cartoons mocking contemporary social foibles. Key items include: **"Honeymoon"**: A couple on a Venetian gondola; the wife finds sightseeing boring because guidebooks (Baedeker) describe everything already—satirizing mechanical tourism and marital disinterest. **"The Decadence of Crime"**: A grandfather laments that modern murders lack the thrill of crimes in his youth—dark humor about sensationalism and nostalgia. **"Companionate Bride"**: References the 1920s trend of "companionate marriage" (partnership-based rather than traditional), joking that modern women become mistresses but never wives. **"One Car Was Enough"**: A boy receives money but gives it to his father for car payments—satirizing American consumer debt and automobile installment buying, a 1920s phenomenon. Other pieces mock mid-life disillusionment, aging, and Bernard Shaw quotations. The overall tone reflects 1920s Life magazine's urbane, cynical commentary on modern life's absurdities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WADN’T WE BETTER TAKE IN MORE OF THE SIGHTS, DARLING?” WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? “on, EVERY- THING'S IN BAEDEKER ANYWAY.” —Der Gitz (Vienna). A New Angle For once the brilliant Lambert Phar- macal Company’s ad-writer is one jump behind the times. As yet we have not seen the slogan: “Often a Bridesmaid, but Never a Companionate Bride.” —Chicago Evening Post. The Decadence of Crime Gin (reading newspaper): Oh, Grand- papa, isn’t this murder case thrilling? Granppara: Ah, my dear, murders are not what they used to be in my young days.—Punch, Tr’s a poor mule that won't work both ways—Louisville Times. “EVERY ONE SHARES IN OUR GRIEF.” “WITH DISCRETION... .THEY’RE CAREFUL TO LEAVE PLENTY FOR US.” —Le Journal (Paris). ontemporaries “Aut Scissors aut Nullus” In the Vernacular Sypney Smuetps, well- known actress, has an old Negro mammy from the South in her employ. The other day, a colored man appeared at the door seeking work. The woman met him and the following was the conver- sation between the two: “I don’t reckon you-all knows of nobody what don’t want to hire no- body to do nothin’, does you?” “Yes, doesn’t.” —New York Eve. World. indeed, I Siz: As often as a middle-aged editor feels like resigning. —Ohio State Journal, THE LION LIES DOWN WITH THE Lams. —Texas Ranger. One Car Was Enough Bossy had just finished a big day. It was his ninth birthday and among the gifts was a nice, new, crisp ten-dollar bill. Uncle Fred, who was fond of his little joke, said: “Well, Bobby, T sup- pose you are going to buy a nice, new, shiny auto- mobile with that money.” “No, sir! I am going to give it to Dad so as to help him pay the next in- stallment on his!” —Forbes. The Groove “L've suddenly realized that I am getting old.” “You don’t look it.” “I am. When I was young I longed for things to happen—now I hope that they won't!” —London Evening News. vr eetsno, Ir’s pretty hard to mis- Hero (in quote George Bernard Shaw. If it isn’t what he said it never sounds like him.—Detroit News. play): marx! NOSED SILAS AND HIS GANG. Voice from the “Gods”: THANK ’EAVEN, YOU'RE GOING Persuasive Salesman: aNd 1 GUARANTEE He'LL GET TEN YEARS’ WEAR OUT oF THES! —Le Rire (Paris). Blessing for a Doll House Derexp this house, ye plancts in your courses, all the playroom's young de- structive forces! Preserve its couches, tables, chairs and dishes And keep it everything a dolly wishes. —Arthur Guiterman, in Ladies’ Home Journal, From Pavt Pomer’s attack upon the Ameri- can knee has had no visible effect. At any rate, there was no rush of shorts to cover.—New Yorker. a . ae arn “fit-up” company touring tense “crook” FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING! IT 18 HAWK- NOW I8 THE TIME TO ACT. TO START AT Last! —London Opinion, comicbooks.com