Life, 1928-05-17 · page 32 of 42
Life — May 17, 1928 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical humor compilation page collecting jokes and comic observations from various sources. The main cartoon at top shows a man falling down stairs while others watch—captioned with a Swedish source suggesting someone went to the "wrong church." The page reprints brief humorous anecdotes and one-liners from newspapers and magazines, including: - A "conversationalist" (likely a dog or pet, based on context) talking nonstop - A boy whose violin theft he'd fantasized about actually happening - A man carving a lover's name into a tree, now hating them - "Slang" about giggle-water (Prohibition-era speak for alcohol) - A minstrel show sketch ("Uncle Tom") using dated racial stereotypes - A cautionary tale about Friday the 13th births The bottom illustration shows a man refusing to swim after eating—a common period health belief about digestion and water safety. The satire targets everyday foolishness: impatience, romantic regrets, superstition, and the absurdities of modern life. This reflects Life magazine's role as a venue for light social commentary through reprinted wit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4S Se $$ “HEAVENS! 1 MADE THE WRONG cruRci!’—Sdndagsnisse-Striz (Stockholm), THE CONVERSATIONALIST He was always rather impatient, a nat- ural failing in one so young, and this eve- ning, almost before I could remove my hat and coat, he had poured out the following remarks like a torrent: “Ah! there you are Sir and how are you tonight and please pat me before I become hysterical and sorry 1 can’t keep still on this beastly lino and when are we having that walk and I know where your slippers are and I have had a hard day too chased six cats away had a long argument with the butcher's boy and buried a bone with- out hurting our old roses and please Sir may I have a biscuit or two?”—Punch. LIFE’S BRIGHTEST MOMENT A smatt boy at Pontiac was walking home from a music lesson with his violin under his arm, when a thief crept up behind him, snatched the instrument, and immediately disappeared. It sounds like a dream come true. Mil- lions of small boys like to imagine such a theft while practicing on the piano at home, but it practically never happens. —Detroit News. LINES BY ONE WHO WOULD FORGET Woovman, hew that tree; Spare not a single bough: I carved the name thercon Of one who hates me now. —Milwaukee Sentinel. MAIN STEMESE Davin Bercer of New York University says that the giggle-water fiends and their girls are saying it this way now: “Tell me where I am and T’ll tell you who you are.” —New York Graphic. “My father was born in poor circumstances, but he did a rich man."—Newspaper Serial. We should have kept that quiet. —Humorist (London). He: Will you be my companionate wife? Sue: Oh, this is so modern. —Colgate Banter. Mvcn has been written about the success of the tabloids, but it occurs to us that their master minds have one basic philosophy: A little child shall read them. —New York World. THIS WAY OUT Lrrttz Eva was ascending heavenward in the Squeedunk Opera House by the aid of an old-fashioned step-ladder, “It’s cold up here, Uncle Tom!” she cried, as she reached the Pearly Gates in safety, Uncle Tom looked up from where he was standing, the tears streaming down his old black face. “Yes, Missy Eve, it am cold! Mos’ powab- ful cold! One mo’ Legree an’ po’ Ol Tom will be gone fo’evah!” Even in his pathos, Uncle Tom was a burnt corker, —J. A. R., in Cleveland Plain Dealer. THE STRONG, SILENT TYPE “Friday the Thirteenth was the birthday of A. H. Wagner of Port Arthur. Wagner was a litle suspicious of the date, but didn’t say ytbing, The stork arrived with the Wagner's ninth chil shortly before midnight."—Dallas Journal He should mean have said something, by all —New Yorker. Paerit is stranger than fictio Yeh, but they're apt to sue you for printing it.” —Louisville Courier-Journal, ek. Gent. “WELL, WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR? WHY DON’r YoU JUMP IN?” The Cavalier: 1’'ve sUsT EATEN AND I’M WAITING FOR MY FOOD TO DIGEST. —Le Rire (Paris). A ps riage but | Chari done dashe and | Those pass rock.- comicbooks.com