Life — August 2, 1928 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page This page contains three separate pieces of satire: 1. **"What Hath God Wrought!"** (poem by Franklin P. Adams): A nostalgic critique lamenting that ancient orators like Demosthenes and Cicero are overshadowed by modern radio personalities—Webster, Hayne, Calhoun, and Clay are "unknown" compared to radio stars Hoover and Smith. The satire mocks how radio has democratized fame, making mediocre broadcasters more celebrated than historically great speakers. 2. **"What Every Real Estate Agent Should Know"**: A Q&A mockery of real estate jargon, exposing how agents use euphemisms ("Man of Vision," "City Improvements") to disguise undesirable properties and justify high prices near noisy streetcar lines. 3. **"Mrs. Pep's Diary"** and **"Taxi!"**: Brief humor pieces about domestic and urban life. The overall theme criticizes modern commercial culture and its linguistic deceptions.