Life, 1928-06-14 · page 40 of 42
Life — June 14, 1928 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page's central narrative (with Seuss illustration) satirizes the romanticization of early airmail service. The text dramatically describes a pilot heroically delivering mail across treacherous terrain and weather, but the punchline reveals what actually arrived: 300 form letters advertising "Dubbel-Dootie Underwear," 400 solicitations about knee joints, and 600 dental glossaries. The satire mocks both the inflated rhetoric surrounding aviation technology and the mundane commercial junk mail it actually carried. The final line—"The air mail must go on—I forget just why"—undercuts the entire heroic narrative, suggesting the enterprise's true worthlessness. The page also includes vintage advertisements (car rentals, garters, driving lights) typical of 1920s *Life* magazine, positioning this satire within commentary on American consumer culture and technological boosterism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rent a small car +++ $50.00 a week up... see twice as much, PARTOUT TOURING ic. AUTO SERVICE ABROAD SSI FIFTIB AVE. NEW YORK CITY FLASHES FROM THE Sport-Li The Optimist: “I can see good in anything.” The Motorist: “That so? Can you see good in driving at night without a SPORT-LITE?” UNITY MFG. CO. 2017S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. Please send information on SPORT-LITES. E.Z. The ORIGINAL wide GARTER Always comfortable. Never slips. No adjustments. Favored by ath- letes. Sold everywhere. 350 to $1.25 everywhere, If not at your Ueater, send 500 for pair to Dept. L. The Thos, P, Tayler Co, Bridgeport, Conn, The mead on mm driving lights Longer, Stronger Beam easiest to operate. Most beautiful appearing — moder- ately priced. A standard acces- sory with most cars. Complies with legal restrictions in all states. DeLuxe size $25.00— small size $17.50. Fill out coupon for information. UNITY MFG. CO. 2017S. Michigan Ave. Chicago The Air Mail Must Go On Worn the rush and roar of the tempes, as the pilot gave her the “gun,” the mail plane rose and sped off toward the west the precious pouches stowed safely away for their journey across the continent, Daylight and darkness, storm and lay ahead of this pilot and the others to whom he would hand over his valuable burden. The air mail must go on. eee Ficrtinc sleet, flying perilously near mountain peaks, now thousands of feet in the air, now skimming close to earth, the plane kept on. Great cities were passed by with the speed of the whirl. wind. Rivers were crossed, prairies tra- versed. No sooner had one plane com. pleted its hardy task than another took it up, and rushed on. The air mail must go on. eee Our of a night of lightning and thun- der, out of the teeth of the hurricane dropped the airman onto the Western city. Three thousand treacherous miles had the air mail conquered. The pilot, weary and exhausted, stepped from his plane, and gave into the hands of the waiting postal officials the precious sacks containing: 300 circular letters to Los Angeles residents, reading: “You have been sug- gested as an outstanding citizen of in tegrity to represent in your city our high-class line of gents’ Dubbel-Dootie Underwear.” 400 appeals beginning: “Have you ever given a thought to your knee joints?” 600 form letters announcing: “This is your last chance to get a Bunk & Bag nalls Glossary of Dental Terms.” And one letter addressed to Miss Goldie Wince in Pasadena, reading: “This is be ing sent by U. S. Air Mail. Ain't I your high-stepping little old patootie?”” eee The air mail mz.st go on—I forget jus why. Richard H. Anthony. MR. MORGAN'S WHOOPE Iv a report of Mr. J. P. Morgan's recent service as a grand juror, the Buffalo Courier-Express stated as follows: “Sitting around a table on which stood sod exhibits as a case of liquor, the grand jury com sidered twelve cases of which an abduction was probably the most serious. Charges of automobile thefts and liquor law violations were othes considered. “Morgan met his accustomed pursuers, tk newspapermen, when he emerged from te courthouse shortly before 1 o'clock. He vanel his familiar phrase slightly by saying, bT” wd awibe}-fssufa-:cmfwypmfw."" We gather that that evidence mus have been the real stuff. Ir Witt Hays ever grows tired of the movies, he can get a job with any college. He'd make a dandy absent: minded professor. Our t We The ¢ Den We bi Ven We tu We We br We We et To We th Of | To be: Tit complic. cat for fest ser for-Pres splendid Stoox comicbooks.com