Life, 1928-09-28 · page 30 of 36
Life — September 28, 1928 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief humorous observations and cartoons mocking everyday absurdities and human folly. Key items include: **"The Olympic Influence"** cartoon depicts chaotic indoor activity, captioned about Amsterdam visitors—likely referencing how the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp made continental Europeans seem wild or unsophisticated to American eyes. **Individual quips** mock modern life: an absent-minded pianist confuses car pedals with piano ones; a Philadelphia job ad seeking someone to "sleep in back of store" (implying poor working conditions); definitions of modern annoyances like train asterisks meaning cancelled service. **"The Exception"** poem parodies sentimental romantic verse, boasting of a relationship *without* the usual dramatic tropes (no tearful goodbyes, no infidelity). **The bottom cartoon** shows a disillusioned lion declaring "there's no honesty" in the world—ironic commentary on cynicism itself. The page's recurring theme: gently mocking human pretension, modern inconveniences, and sentimental clichés through wit rather than sharp political attack.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE OLYMPIC INFLUENCE “Don't mind CRESCENDO Ay absent-minded pianist bought an automobile, and, after the salesman had give him two lessons, decided he could run it without assistance. When he awoke in the hospital the first thing he said was: “I thought that was the loud pedal I pressed with my right foot." “It was!" said the nurse with a smile, —Lonisville Times. BOOKPLATE MOTTO Because so many friends, gol dern ‘em, Who borrow volumes don’t return ‘em, “Ex Libris" on my bookplate looks As if it meant, ‘My former books.”* —A. G., in New York Herald Tribune, HOLD EVERYTHING! WE'RE ON OUR WAY Waxr ad in Philadelphia Inquirer: “Wanted— Young man to sleep in back of store.”* —New York Evening Post Events have taught this country one thing —never put all your scientists in one airship. —indianapolis News us—we've been this way since we got back from Amsterdam.” —Le Jourwat (Panis). Asrertsk—That little black thing in the time-table which means the train doesn't go on the day selected.—Detroit News. “Now, Bruce, just what has this reel fot to do with our honeymoon film diary?” —Movie Makers. Hicuexow: You are a pauper. Lowsrow: Hurrah! Is it a boy of a girl? —Green Goat, Tue Disitrvsionen Lion: What a rotten world—there’s no honesty in it any more! THE EXCEPTION We loved—but it was not in vain; We did not wave good-by; He did not whistle down the lane; I did not want to die. He did not meet another lass, Nor I another lad; Happy we saw the hours pass, And oh, what fun we had! I did not write some pretty verse; He did not leave me flat. You pocts, mournful as a hearse, What do you think of that? —Norman R. Jaffray, in Saturday Evening Poo Wire (to husband in yachting cap): I'm ar prised at you, Ted—with that cap on, tool —Evtrvsopy’s Weexty (Loxoos). CONDOLENCES A saatt boy was told that he must write tw his grandmother a letter of sympathy on the dead of her husband. This was the letter, adore! with many blots, that eventually arrived: “Drag Graxoata,—What a pity about poor Grandpa! Please send me some stamps. There is a new boy here who squeaks if I hit him.—Wid love, from Roctr.""—Tit-Bits (London). NOT ALL THERE “I'm not certain of the exact amount, but as you've given me a blank cheque that'll be all rigtt, TT five you a cell in the morning. Newspaper Seria Prrrenasty a padded one. —Humorist (London). Nortixe is less interesting than avoiding personalities. —Ohio State Journal —Le Rint (Panis): comicbooks.com