Life, 1928-09-14 · page 30 of 40
Life — September 14, 1928 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief satirical jokes and observations from various newspapers and magazines, mocking contemporary figures and social trends of the era. The main cartoon depicts "The Signing of the Anti-War Pact," showing officials at a desk while someone laughs offstage—satirizing the apparent hypocrisy or futility of peace treaties. Other items mock: Rockefeller Jr.'s bank for Harlem residents (implying skepticism about the venture); a conversation between newly-arrived Black Southern migrants unfamiliar with Northern employment agencies, presented in heavy dialect for comedic effect; and contemporary figures like Mussolini and playwright Eugene O'Neill. The page reflects 1920s-era satire: some jokes target technological change (television broadcasting comics), others mock social pretension and absurdity. The racial humor, while typical of the period, reflects deeply offensive stereotyping now recognized as bigotry. The overall tone mocks institutional folly, affectation, and contemporary celebrity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
\ NE WW The Signing of the Anti-War Pact “Who's that laughing?” HOME TO HARLEM ALL Moran and Mack enthusiasts will admire the courage of Mr. Rockefeller, Jr., who is open- ing a bank for the Negroes of Harlem. Overdrafts will happen in the best-regulated accounts, and an imaginary conversation rings in our ears: “Mr. Johnson, your account is overdrawn $12.64!" “Ummm, whut'd yo" have to bring dat up New York Herald Tribune. “A lot of people on this famous beach, eh?” “Sir, at swimming time, except for the lack of clothes, you'd think you were in the subway.’’ —L'Iuusrrarion (Panis). A PLAUSIBLE THEORY “Although strongly fancied before the race, this horse was lost.""—Evening Paper. Prautars it got mixed up with the horses in the next race.—Humorist (London). Urorta is a place where experience may be had on approval.—Lowisville Times. —Der Gore (Vienna). He who hesitates is honked. Indianapolis News. Rincmaster: I regret to announce, ladies and gen- tlemen, that the Talking Bear will not appear tonight. The ventriloquist is ill. —Dvstix Opinion. SPECIALISTS Two old darkies, a man and his wife, have come to New York to look for a job. They have live! on a Southern plantation all their lives, and the city and its ways are strange to them. Someone has told them that the best thing to do is » go to an employment agency, They stand before the desk in the office, and give their names and addresses. The old man i asked what kind of work he is accustomed to, “Well, suh,'’ he says, ‘‘mos'ly I looks fob Massa’s specs."* The employment agent stares at him, and thea turns to the old woman, “What can you do?"* **Mos'ly I shoos de flies off Missus,"* —New Republic, THE ARTS AND SCIENCES bey Textvisiox may eventually mean the broadcas. ing of comic strips.—Toledo Blade. “ Sicxon Mussoust, we are told, hase [gw markable powers of mimicry. His imitation of Napoleon must be a scream,—Punch, 7 Gr Pa is la te ' First Boy: Isn't it cold in here? Stconp Boy: Yes, | wouldn't have come in Mother hadn't told me not to —Passixe Stow (Loxvoy). ON READING “STRANGE INTERLUDE” My soul goes forth to make its bow Behind a mask, encased in stecl— But I can tell you, anyhow, It won't go near Eugene O'Neill! Hilary, in Chicago Evening Post MIKE'S PLACE OF BLESSED MEMORY Bos Ryoex of the Ohio State Journal says tht his position on the old-fashioned saloon is that he is against its return but glad he remembes it, especially one he has in mind. —New York Evening Post ABROAD WITH JESSICA Dr. MacCracken of Vassar says the best i] to get acquainted with your daughter is to wht her to Europe. On the other hand, this is possibly not the best way to get acquainted with Europe.—New Yorker. A prvocist is a “T say, old me man who was once a who's your tailor?” druggist.—Collier’s. —Lowpon CaLtine comicbooks.com