Life, 1928-06-21 · page 35 of 38
Life — June 21, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a poem and an advertisement rather than traditional satire. **"Outward Bound"** is a serious poem contrasting youth's romantic, fatal transatlantic flight with the mundane death awaiting ordinary people. It romanticizes early aviation's danger—a topical concern when transatlantic flights were novel and perilous. The poem laments that young aviators achieve glamorous deaths, while ordinary mortals face earthbound decay. **"Common Ground"** is an Arrow Collars advertisement using social commentary as marketing. It depicts two well-dressed men meeting at a club, suggesting that shared success—measured by proper dress and "starched collars"—creates social equality across class lines. The ad appeals to aspirational middle-class men: wearing Arrow collars signals you belong to a successful, exclusive group. It's not satirical but rather uses subtle class anxiety to sell conformity through proper attire. The page reflects 1920s-30s attitudes: aviation's exotic danger, rigid class consciousness masked as meritocracy, and the belief that consumer goods signify social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUTWARD BOUND plane has taken off on the transatlantic fight."—Any news item, Tue shuttles click and cease. The cloth, Unfinished, flutters from the loom, Youth mounts the shining air again, Doomed—but how glamorous a doom! When you and I have reached the span Of our full years and come to die, House walls will hold us, and a roof Will stretch between us and the sky. We shall sce night come creeping in Slow as a sea fog’s steady drift; the sight of death will be d, and beautiful, and swift, For us the earthy dark, and then The groping roots of vine and tree; For them the jade-tipped golden spears Of sunlight striking through the sea. For us a mound, a carven stone Where slow effacing moss will cling; For them a lonely tide that bears, A little while, a broken wing. Yet rule and law can never stay The cagle heart, the falcon plume. Youth mounts the shining air again, Doomed—but how glamorous a doom! —C. T. Davis, in Arkansas Gazette. “Wire Stats a Fine Wit Hussano’s $5,000 Savincs.” —Chicego Tribune. “Deanie,”” said the husband gently, “I wish you wouldn't do that; the smoke hurts my eyes.” —Detroit Free Press. Common Ground You meet Bill at the Club. You haven’t seen him for a long time. sesesase As you hesitate to ask him what he is doing, you look him over. sees ; You know he i i entpoutenra is a success because he is dressed CALE FORN FA successfully. fie wonderful Pi eas pee bcanab i ehis rene You are glad that you are also. the world. See sparkling Havana, Caribbean Metropolis, |_—" SN ORT: opolis, You are on common ground—you belong to way, ’ | the same Starched Collar Crowd. Reduced summer rates NOW. Fortnightly sailings. Largest, fastest ships. Ask for literaturé deseribing special round trips m ia; to weeestee ey ||| ARROW Starched COLLARS CLUETT, PEABODY & CO., INC. TROY, N. Y. ARROW SHIRTS COLLARS UNDERWEAR HANDKERCHIEFS Besse a8% 88 comicbooks.com