Life, 1928-06-14 · page 30 of 42
Life — June 14, 1928 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines advertisement and satirical humor typical of Life magazine's format. **The Advertisement:** B.V.D. underwear dominates the left side, featuring a woman modeling a union suit. The copy emphasizes the garment's superior fit, patented construction, and quality—standard marketing language for the era. **The Satire:** The right side's "Stream of Consciousness" piece mocks pretentious Midwestern literary clubs and their poetry readings. It satirizes: - Affected bohemian poets reading earnest, pseudo-profound work - Audience members performing interest while mentally checked-out - The speaker's internal monologue revealing indifference (reluctant to attend, distracted by dinner plans) - Overwrought romantic imagery ("fountain of blue larkspur," "old lute") - The speaker planning to escape by fabricating an excuse about getting horseradish The humor lies in exposing the gap between the cultured pretense of literary gatherings and participants' actual boredom and shallow concerns—a classic Life satirical target.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
©1928, The B. V. D. Co., Inc. The Fit That’s World Famous is yours in a “B.V.D.” Union Suit. It is made in an unequalled range of sizes to assure one just right for your build. Its patented closed crotch —its special webbing con- struction at shoulder and encircling waist—its shaped lines and characteristic tailoring — guarantee un- equalled ease and play. From the creation of “B.V. D.” Nainsook in our own mills, to the completion of the last lock- stitched seam, exclusive quality is builtintoall“B.V. D.”’ garments. For coolness, comfort and long wear insist on this Red Woven Label. MADE FOR THE BEST RETAIL TRADE ose Met AG USA Cf end Toe animes Men's Union Suit $1.50 Shirts and Drawers the garment 85¢ Youths’ Union Suit 85 Shirts, Drawers, Shorts, Men's and Youths’ Union Suits obtainable in fancy materials at various prices. Children’s Reinforced Taped Waist Suits 75c the suit. The B. V. D. Company, Inc., N. Y. Sole Makers “‘B. V. D."" Underwear “Next to Myself I like ‘B.V. D.’ Best!” LIFE Stream of Consciousness During a Reading of Original Poetry at @ Middlewestern Literary Club So tonight the more creative spirits of the club will have their litle hour that ought to mean sixty minutes I shall first let you have a rollicking little thing aptly named “Let Us Go AGYPIINE by Miss Lilymae Farquhar Brussmiller thanks so much Mrs. Apthorpe oh come let us go a-gypsying we'll thumb a nose at care we will will we oh come let us go a-gypsying I'd really rather not but you go ahead Lil don’t mind me oh come let us go a-gypsying we'll batten on its joys I'm afraid I can’t make it Lil honest I don’t feel like battening on Mr. Larry Fay’s sharply etched little piece in the manner of the Japanese hokku catalpa branches whipping the moon-shield bring mem- ories of pale water trickling through peach blossoms don’t tell me Larry don’t tell me let me guess does it begin with an “s’’ and I wonder how the birds know so do I Larry by Miss Cherry Blaine Black all day I have been with the skies blue skies smi-hiling at meec-ce_ nothing but blue-oo skies do I see and the night intimate expectant I come to you I come to you in the warm night in the caressing softness of the warm southwind weather clear track fast I come to you with joy with abandon I come to you I come to you with the inspiration come on come o-on come o-on Inspiration ride him Mr. Clarence Bixby is represented by from Tarentum I will bring ecstasies is that a promise bring a few for me richer than argosies of old is my love my love is a fountain of blue larkspuir all right then bring me some of that and a little horse- radish from Tarentum I will bring ec- stasies all right but don’t forget the horse- radish and a perfectly articulated sonnet by Miss Felicia Quackenbush when fin- gering this old lute I think of thee but if you didn’t have that old lute to finger you'd be thinking of somebody else ch you women are all alike scratch a woman and find a luter that’s what you are an old luter I'm through through do you understand — good-by —_good-by _ forever good-by good-by good-by good-by good- by I'll just say good-by good-by Mrs. Apthorpe it’s been a charming evening and I wish I could stay for the discussion but I really have to go out and get some horseradish that’s what I'll say I'll say that I am going a-gypsying I'll say that my love is a fountain of horseradish Mrs. Apthorpe I am going to say Mrs. Ap- thorpe my dear Mrs. Apthorpe I am go- ing to say my God what am I going to say my GOD..... Tupper Greenwald. THE NEW AMERICA Suopairt (to another behind the counter, as a customer comes in): Mamie, will you wait on this woman? (Then, to the cus- tomer.) This lady will wait on you. Like Rare Old Wine The flicker of candle-light. . . fairy- like shadows on tapestry hung walls +. exquisitely carved silver... spark. ling crystal. —And DECKER'S TOWN CLUB Ham, mellowed as rare old wine is mellowed! Enriched with a flavor that takes you back to the days when hams were home-cured and seasoned with weeks of patient curing and the rare, pungent smoke of real, green hickory-wood! Decker's 7own ZiusHam is made the old-fashioned way from the choicest young porkers. They are served by Clubs whose memberships demand the fia est, the better Hotels, and on private cars, They weigh between 12 and 16 pounds, The price is 50 cents the pound delivered, Decker's 7awn Zius Bacon cured and smoked the same long careful way, comes in a flitch, weighing about 54 pounds, and is priced at 60 cents delivered. You've probably never had its equal. Onder direct from us, with the understanding that if you are not satisfied, your money will be refunded. “Special proposition for Country Clubs, Town Clubs, Hotels, and Restaurants. Write direct to us for detailed information. Jacos E. Decker & SONS Creators of TOWN CLUB HAMS & BACON Mason City, out in lowa DEALERS—Ask for exclusive franchise. Add 5 cents per pound west of Rockies. comicbooks.com