Life, 1928-09-21 · page 15 of 36
Life — September 21, 1928 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Section:** "Why I Am Quitting the Literary Racket" presents famous authors (Dreiser, Anderson, Sandburg, Hemingway, Lewis, Wylie, Hergeshimer) each critiquing their own writing styles with self-deprecating humor—a satire on literary pretension and artistic self-doubt. **Bottom Cartoon:** Titled "The Man Who Examines Macaroni to See That All's Clear," depicts a bureaucrat inspecting pasta boxes marked "OK" and "PASSED." This satirizes government food inspectors and regulatory oversight—likely referencing post-Prohibition bureaucratic expansion or food safety regulations. The inspector's meticulous examination of mundane products mocks the absurdity of excessive government oversight and red tape in everyday commerce.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Why I Am Quitting the Literary i Racket I Theodore Dreiser writes it, “Te shows profound pity”; if 1 write it, “It is senti- mental drivel.” If Sherwood Anderson writes it, “It shows remarkable restraint”; if I write it, “[thas no feeling.” If Carl Sandburg writes it, “It is free from all the old limitations of rhythm and thyme”; if I write it, “It shows no knowl- edge of poctical technique.” If Ernest Hemingway writes it, “Its syle is something new and significant”; if | write it, “It 1s unpardonably coarse.” If Elinor Wylie writes it, “It is as keorative as Dresden china”; if I write it, “It is mere bric-a-brac.” If Sinclair Lewis writes it, “It is keen, xcurate satire”; if I write it, “It is crude burlesque.”” If Joe Hergesheimer writes it, “Accept our check with thanks”; if I write it, “We regret,” etc., ete. “Has he managed to keep their mar- Tactiess Democratic Pep-Leaver: I think I'll become a politician. riage a secret?” Come on, men, here comes A. L. Bass. “No; she knows it.” Succesten Lanvinc Device ror Gene Tunney Wien He Comes Home MACIRON' y OK Y, Everyvay Deeps THat Pass UNsuNG The Man Who Examines Macaroni to See That All's Clear comicbooks.com