Life, 1929-04-19 · page 47 of 52
Life — April 19, 1929 — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **book reviews and advertisements** rather than political cartoons. The reviews critique popular mystery novels, particularly S.S. Van Dine's "The Bishop Murder Case," featuring detective Philo Vance solving murders based on Mother Goose nursery rhyme themes. The reviewer mocks Vance as an insufferable "society dick" whose pretentious erudition ("Philo-sophistry") annoys readers, yet the book sells well anyway due to its gripping plot. The second review praises "Pick Up the Pieces"—an exposé of mental asylums written from inside by a formerly institutionalized author, treating institutional abuse as serious social commentary. The page's advertisements promote **Phoenix hosiery** and **Reddy Tees** (golf tees), typical commercial content. No political satire or caricature is present; this is standard magazine editorial and advertising content from the 1920s-30s era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Books by Tue Bistop Murper Case Perry (Scribner's $2) by S. S. Van Githens Dine, is another one of those mass murders held in high esteem by easy-chair criminologists. Like its predecessors the Benson, Canary, and Greene murder cases, this ingenious little massacre is solved by that insufferable society dick, Mr. Philo Vance, whose Encyclopaedic erudition continues, to give one a liberal educa- tion and a pain in the neck. But, judging from the position of The Bishop Murder Case on the best seller lists, people will take a lot of punishment for the sake of a gripping, exciting story. And, in spite of the bad-mannerisms of Mr. Vance, this one is all of that. Joseph C. Robin, champion archer, is found with an arrow in his heart. His middle name, by some curious chance, is “Cochrane”... . his rival in love is named “Sperling”, which means “Sparrow”, according to a mysterious note signed “The Bishop”. From this fitting beginning, springs a gruesome series of Mother Goose murders, including that of an unfor- tunate fellow named “Sprigg” who was shot through the head by the little man who had the little gun with the bullets of lead, lead, lead. One by one, the suspects are elimi- nated, When most of them have been killed or accounted for, Mr. Vance gets his man. A poor detective, perhaps, but awfully good murdering. So go ahead and read it, overlook the Philo-sophistry and enjoy yourself. Pick Up Tue Preces (Doubleday, Doran $3) by “North 3-1”, is a true story of state and private hospitals, com- monly called insane asylums, from the inside. It is with some hesitation— for it is not a pleasant thing—that I bring it to your attention. But I am confident that, having read the book, you will feel as strongly as I do about this fine, brave effort to-tell the world what goes on behind the bars in those graveyards of the living. The book is more than the “success” story of a man who has come back. Written, for the most part, on the other side of the wall, it is the tragic record of what he saw there, the seamy side of humanity laid bare in all its wretched horror, The author, himself, was sane. He On the busy feet of men the world over, Phoenix socks have proved that strenuous wear and many washings do not affect their lustrous texture and fine style over long miles of service. That’s Phoenix economy. Priced at 50 cents to $2 a pair. Right to a TEE! Champions and players who turn in the low cards use Reddy Tees. It’s so easy to tee your ball to the right height on a Reddy for a good, long drive. Reddy Tees are the idea of a golfer who thought sand was out of date. Result, up-to-date golfers now use Reddy Tees. Try them, see the difference in your driving. The REDDY TEE “Buy from your Pro” comicbooks.com