Life, 1928-08-30 · page 31 of 36
Life — August 30, 1928 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical poetry and humor pieces with a full-page advertisement for Forhan's toothpaste. The content is primarily literary—opening with philosophical musings on the meaning of life, followed by short comedic vignettes: **The cartoons/jokes** include: a clergyman accidentally producing a rabbit instead of a ring during a marriage ceremony (confusing stage magic with religious ritual); a Tijuana establishment's blunt signage; and wordplay connecting a Wisconsin florist sign ("Norrin & Burton") to Longfellow's "Tell me not in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream." **The advertisement** occupies the lower half, warning that 4 of 5 people with white teeth actually have gum disease (pyorrhea). It promotes Forhan's dentifrice as superior because it cleans without harsh abrasives while maintaining gum health—a health-conscious sales pitch typical of 1920s-30s advertising that exploited medical anxieties. The page reflects Life's editorial mix: literary humor for educated readers alongside emerging consumer health advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UCH IS LIFE “gent is life!" the young man cries, Who has yet to know it. “such is lifel’ the old man sighs, When about to blow it. Life is but ‘‘a fleeting show, In Tom Moore's conclusion; Life is but a vale of woe, Given for man’s illusion, But ‘tis not a fleeting show; It is deeper, denser. Would you really like to know? Hark to Herbert Spencer: “Life is the definite combination of heterogeneous changes, both simultaneous and successive, in correspondence with external co-existences and sequences.” Such is lifel When overwrought, Meditate upon it. Memorize that golden thought; Paste it in your bonnet. From “A Penny Whistle,”" by Bert Leston Taylor (Knopf). THE PALMY DAYS Browway plays are to take the road as talking movies. Ultimately you will encounter the Broad- Ciercyaan: I pronounce you man and wife—the ring, please. Conjurer (reaching in his pocket and pulling out a rabbit): Gosh! the wrong act. —Evirveooy’s Werxiy (Loxvon). MAKING IT EASIER Ovr idea of the height of laconic expression is embodied in a sign that hangs over the entrance to one of Tijuana’s thriving "joints": 29 POETIC PARTNERSHIP Ove of my vacationing contribs sends me a sign which he observed while touring through Wis- consin. The sign reads: Normn & Burton Florists It is not particularly remarkable—or it wasn't until it reminded me hauntingly of some poem or other. After a good deal of contemplation, the quotation revealed itself to me: “Tell me Nottin mournful numbers Life is Button empty dream’’! —Ted Robinson, in Cleveland Plain Dealer. In a Pinch, use ALLEN’S FOOT=EASE UNUSUAL “Miss Wostear, daughter of Mrs, Willaby Wombat—"' The society editor sat up at this, “We'll make a front-page story of it. Here's a New York society girl of the same name as her mother.""—Louisville Courier-Journal. cw, Four o'clock in the morning is that way actor who will boast that his voice toured the country with Barrymore.—New York Sun. “Come Ix. You Wox’r Be Hurt Axo Bantry Norictn.""—U, S. SS. “‘Mississippi”* Bulletin. period of otherwise solemn stillness when the milkman’s horse sounds like the last act of **Ben-Hur.""—Detrout News published every Thursday, simul neously in the United States, in, Canada and British Possess: 1S ns. Title registered in U. S. t and illustrations in Live ere copyrighted. For Reprint Rights Rritain apply to Lire, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter ndon, E. C.. England. The foreign trade supplied from Ltve's London Office, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, London, E. C. No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Live docs not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prigs to the date of issue to be affected. All communications should be addressed to LIFE, $98 Madison Avenue, New York. Yearly Subscription Rate, $5.00 (Canadian, $5.80; Foreign, $6.60). White teeth deceive 4 out of 5 - BECAUSE : - teeth are only as healthy as the gums S° many people think they are secure when teeth are gleaming white. But too often they surrender to a disease of neglect—Pyorrhea. Lurking behind clean teeth is this marauder that takes high toll in health from 4 persons out of 5 after forty, and thousands younger. It ignores the teeth and attacks the gums, Take this precaution: See your dentist every six months. And start using the dentifrice that cleans teeth without the use of harsh abrasives and at the same time helps keep the gums firm and healthy. As you know, Pyorrhea seldom attacks healthy gums. Morning and night, every day, use Forhan’s for the Gums. Massage your gums daily with this dentifrice, following directions in booklet that comes with tube. Then you provide the protection teeth and gums must have. At all druggists—in tubes, 35c and 60c. Formula of R. J. Forhan, D. D. S. Forhan Company, New York. Forhans for the gums YOUR TEETH 4 ARE ONLY AS HEALTHY AS YOUR GUMS comicbooks.com