Life, 1928-12-07 · page 26 of 64
Life — December 7, 1928 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous illustrated article about reindeer, likely written in response to popular interest in Arctic exploration or Scandinavian culture. The piece adopts a mock-scientific tone, presenting absurd "facts" about reindeer alongside genuine observations. The satire targets credulous readers and pseudoscientific claims. It presents ridiculous assertions—that reindeer "purr like rabbits," have improperly designed chassis, sport "Adam's apples"—alongside actual details (diet of palm seeds and bananas, hairy muzzles, antlers, exposure to harsh weather). References to "Lapp" people and "Lapp savannas" indicate engagement with Scandinavian reindeer herding cultures. The repeated joke "why reindeers purr like rabbits" mocks both the animals and people who might believe such claims without questioning them. The tone is gently ridiculous throughout, poking fun at both pseudo-experts and their audiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SSS SSE LI BE ORL LIL EOEL e the dear reindeer. the nourishment they ruminate is palm seeds _and bananas. As per our conscientious cut, they’re hairy on their muzzles; |Our dear subject at 49° below zero. 8) they pack a flock of antlers and 4 they're very blond Smoot of ovr subject. This behind. Shows plainly that only o1 stylish ents asked me today why reindeers purr like = it’s oar syeee to look at bu it tickles Bicastrint palm seeds, when they nuzzles. | But still and all and by the way, Im puzzled not a aad They sport a batch of whiskers where avvie purring a¢ 2 Pa] their Adam’s and me I has apple’s tethered to up and say that I've forgot their habits. Early historical incident. why reindeers purr tedkeving Rast like rabbits. Say, 7 I wonder and from exposure if they do. to the air their hox are slightly weathered. Lapp laps. (A.B.C, the first three letters of the alphabet.) But I can chant Whenever their chassis facts: teindeers navigate They're not so the bosky | well designed; | [werner sereau 2¢ Use tok Lapp savannas, | 40 comicbooks.com