Life, 1928-12-07 · page 29 of 64
Life — December 7, 1928 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **Main Cartoon (top):** A couple sits on a sofa while a man (labeled "Sir Basil," likely a British character based on the formal address) reminds them of Christmas shopping deadlines. The satire mocks how romantic moments get interrupted by commercial concerns—even intimate encounters can't escape holiday consumerism. **"Tracks to 32" Column:** A humorous essay describing young couples who meet at train stations for passionate farewells, treating the repetitive romance as entertainment. It satirizes the melodrama and artificiality of such encounters. **"High Pressure" and "Art" Sections:** Brief jokes: one about aggressive salesmanship, another mocking how art criticism rewards "truth" over beauty or brilliance—suggesting popularity trumps aesthetic merit. The overall tone reflects Life's satirical approach to American social customs, commercialism, and pretension during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SSG LI BE LALA EEE ELLE LP w Oden “And before we part, Sir Basil, permit me to remind you that there are now only sixteen more shopping days before Christmas.” various gates leading to departing trains, we saw couples kissing each other in en- raptured farewells. When the trains were lied, most of these couples remained in fond embrace, until finally the man broke away and ran for his train and the girl, tear-blinded, stumbled away to keep another date. Here was romance! Here was a torrent of humanity, eddying about entrances and exits and trickling off to Oshkosh, Koko- mo, Glenwood Manor and points east, in- tent upon a million different missions. Here were mad, ecstatic meetings, tragic separations, suspense, drama, glamour. Ken and I are very happy now. Night finds us in front of “Tracks 19 to 32,” where we indulge in long, passionate kisses and look despairingly into each other’s eyes, until the trains are called and most of the people disperse. Then we crowd is forming, and so on, far into the night. About two a. M. we usually go home, a bit tired, but still in love. Some day, perhaps, we'll settle down in a little station all our own, and raise a family | of traveling salesmen—or will they be | train announcers? Betty Crawford. HIGH PRESSURE Hit: Did Cohen try hard to sell you some of his goods? Gitt: Did he? He almost talked his arm off. hurry over to the next track where a} ART Once upon a time, three men—a man of genius, a man of ideals, and a man of experience—set out to create a great work of art. “How brilliant!” was the verdict on the first man’s efforts. “How beautiful!” second’s, But it was the third who won the prize. “How true!" the world said. cC.G.S. was said of the Smamte: “As full of the joyous Christmas Spirit as a movie star posing in Santa Claus costume for pictures (to be | published in the Christmas numbers of the fan magazines) on a hot afternoon | in July.” — Poge 43 comicbooks.com