Life, 1928-04-05 · page 14 of 59
Life — April 5, 1928 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Content:** The page features "A Short Life of Al Smith," a biographical sketch of Alfred Smith's early career. The text describes Smith's rise from working-class origins to prominent political positions, including his election as Governor of New York. This appears to be a sympathetic or celebratory profile rather than satirical commentary. **Cartoons:** 1. **Top illustration**: A customs officer catching someone performing "sleight-of-hand tricks"—likely satirizing smuggling or customs evasion. 2. **"It Takes Study"**: A doctor-patient dialogue joke about marital sleep habits, typical of period humor. 3. **Bottom cartoon**: A returning traveler who's "completely forgotten the English for garçon"—poking fun at affected Americans adopting French affectations while abroad. The page mixes political biography with light social satire typical of 1920s-era Life magazine humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervous Passencer (to Customs’ Officer): Ah, I see that you do sleight-of-hand tricks, A Short Life of Al Smith (ds William Gibbs Me. ALFRED SMITH was ushered out of the infernal regions at a’ very early age to take a home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, prominent members of the liquor trust. Alfred, carly in his life, showed signs of promise, being able to pick a nickel off a wet a age of three, and at ten years of age he began his long carcer of bouncing and glass-wiping at the old Tammany House. It was not, however, until he had been sent to the State Legi ture by the whisky interests that he began to assert himself. While a member of that body he proposed a measure providing for an eleventh night in a barroom for all American citizens, and later, after reading Shakespeare, he proposed a “Twelfth Night.” Although this bill was de- feated, Mr. Smith did not allow him- self to become discouraged, and after a long period of thoughtful intoxica- tion and studious dissipation, he ran for Governor of New York and was elected by a large minority. After a consultation with Robert Ingersoll, William Hale Thompson, and Aaron Burr, during which the 1doo Might Write It) quartette assassinated = Abraham Lincoln in Ford's Theatre, Mr. Smith began his famous correspond- ence with the Pope of Rome which ended with Jimmy Walk- er’s appoin as Mayor of New York City. The people do not choose Al to ran in 1928. Paul §. Powers. Edible Americana AWNUDZ. Frantch fry duss. Grayub nudz. Podderhuss stayeck. Stchup zuce. Cuppa goo’ cawfee. Suff boil ax. Leggalam. Russ tzickin. Hoista sooup. Brackfuss fooit. Candaeloap. Ria brett. Eyea sgream. Poke chubs. Choon gom. Gerald Cosgrove. paday- A Song of the Homeland WHERE the roaring bachelors clash, Where the ponderous trains re- sound, Where the dazzling spinsters flash, There my wife our home hath found. Where the neighbor's shri Echoes o'er the volle Where the melancholy sigh Whispers through the barren hall; Where at night some sumptuous spree, Gay and gaudy, towering high, Falls and thunders, loud and free, While the walls defiance cr, Where the feline horde, full Dancing on with swe' ht, ing pride, in the pale moonlight, Ghostlike through the night doth ride— Where such wondrous things abound, There my wife our home hath found. Robert Kinoy. It Takes Study OCTOR OYSTER: Your hus- band is in poor health. Does he get enough sleep? Oysterette: Oh, dear—I haven't known him long enough to tell whether he’s asleep or not. “FRHERE seems to be no secret bout his joint.” 6, it’s only a so-to-speakeasy.” ReturNep TRAVELER (six weeks’ tourist): Garcon, garcon—oh, I've completely forgotten the English for garcgon! comicbooks.com