Life, 1928-05-24 · page 37 of 38
Life — May 24, 1928 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The "Politics" section is a satirical dialogue between two shoe-shiners (written in exaggerated immigrant dialect) discussing the 1928 U.S. presidential election. When asked about candidates like Al Smith, Andrew Mellon, and Herbert Hoover, the character Gus dismisses them all as "beeg bums," then jokes that the only competent leader would be Mussolini—who "gotta good job already in old country." The satire works on multiple levels: it mocks working-class political cynicism, immigrant stereotypes, and implicitly criticizes American politicians by comparing them unfavorably to an authoritarian dictator. The joke's dark edge—suggesting even Mussolini would be preferable to available U.S. options—reflects genuine 1920s anxieties about political leadership quality. The remainder of the page contains advertisements and a separate article about wealthy Pittsburgh businessman Walter A. May's extravagant Paris dinner party, illustrating American wealth and excess in the Roaring Twenties.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Politics “How you wannum shine—light or dark?” Shine ‘em dark, Gus.” “Who's gonna be nex’ President, you think huh?” . “[ don’t know, Gus. Who do you think it'll be?” . “Whazza diff’? All a lotta beeg bums.” “Do you like Al Smith?” “Aw! Heeza no good. Heeza beeg m. “Do you like Mellon?” “Aw! Heeza beeg bum. Heeza no good.” “What about Reed?” “Aw! Heeza lotta boloney.” “Hoover?” “Aw! Appla sauce! Beeg bum.” “Well, Gus. Who do you think ought to be President?” “Mussolini! Butta no chance. He gotta good job already in old country... .. You needa new shoe laces, too.” Robert Lord. Why Europe Loves Us (From a cable dispatch in the New York Sun) PARIS, April 27.—Sixty-four Americans are assembling here tonight for a dinner firen them by Walter A. May, Pittsburgh druggist, in celebration of his silver wed- ding anniversary, on a scale that even Paris never heard of before. Mr. May’s party all told will cost upward of $200,000, and though Paris is fairly hardened to. the foibles of rich Americans, tonight's dinner tas the French capital gasping. One of the surprises Mr. May has in store for his guests is a sudden telephone ring after the $1,500 dessert—an enormous pie st with rhinestones—is served. The tele- The new package ior the new improved Ar cast a dressing which keeps the h in place and acts as a tonic Even its delightful fragrance Glo-Co Company, 6511 McKinley Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. too! is new. is; As necessary as the morning shave phone is a direct line from Pittsburgh to Paris, which Mr, May has hired for the | evening—the first time the transatlantic telephone has been used for such wholesale purposes, Mr. May invited his sixty-four guests, mostly old Pittsburgh friends, to come to Paris for the dinner at his expense. They arrived on the Aquitania Thursday night and will réturn on the Berengaria May 15. During their ten-day stay they plan to see everything Paris can offer, from the Folies- Bergére to the museums and tombs. Every cent of their expenses will be paid by Mr. May, including railroad fare from Pitts- burgh to New York, steamship passage and return, and all living expenses while in Paris. Mr. May's secretary estimates the cost for the sixty-four persons at a minimum of $2,500 each, while the dinner tonight will cost upward of $10,000, What the telephone bill will be no one knows, Friends say Mr. May gives a similar an- niversary dinner every year and thought it would be fun to hold it in Paris this time. Mr. May is the owner of a chain of drug stores, When you throw a real party— most fastidious guests will be first to observe that you wish them to have only the best. The Finest Sparkling Table Water in the World Sole Importers: Apollinaris Agency Co. Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York comicbooks.com