Life, 1929-04-12 · page 40 of 44
Life — April 12, 1929 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (approximately 1920s-1930s) contains satirical commentary on the publishing industry and period advertisements. **"The Rejection Slip" section** mocks the gap between what literary magazines politely tell rejected authors and what editors actually think. The satire presents three versions: the formal rejection letter (diplomatic), what the budding author interprets it to mean (insulting dismissal), and what the "long-suffering editor" should honestly write (brutally honest condemnation). The humor stems from exposing the hypocrisy of genteel rejection language masking contempt for amateur writers. **"Mrs. Pep's Diary"** offers casual book criticism of Sinclair Lewis's *Dodsworth*, dismissing it as dull while noting the author's narrow view of American wives. The page also contains period advertisements for **Absorbine Jr.** (a liniment) and **Marmola** (a diet aid claiming to correct glandular deficiencies causing obesity), plus a hotel advertisement—typical commercial content of the era. The satire targets pretentious literary gatekeepers and their coded rejection language.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RELIEF COMFORT Life Mrs. Pep's Diary (Continued from Page 19) think we passed up another young Keats on the road, which was of some comfort. Reading this night in Sin- clair Lewis's new book “Dodsworth”, I was surprised to find it exceedingly dull, save that in the end it made the central character somehow come alive, but I do think that the author's im- pression of American wives is born of intensive and not wide experience. The Rejection Slip As Is “We regret that the accompanying manuscript, which has had a most careful reading, is not adapted to our special requirements. Its return does not imply lack of merit. Please ac- cept our thanks for permitting us to see it, and rest assured that we are glad to give manuscripts careful con- sideration and a quick reading. Yours very truly, THE EDITORS.” What the Budding Author Thinks They Mean. “We really don’t give a darn at all that your manuscript, which we barely glanced at, really looks like a pretty good story, but we can’t be sure, as we have a dumb bunch of editors here. Then again, our policy is to keep out the newcomers. You can thank us that we are at least sending back your manuscript, but don’t bother us any more, as you may not get the next one back at all. We can’t be an- noyed. Yours, THE EDITORS.” What the Long-Suffering Editor | Should Have Written. “Of all the wipe, that manuscript of yours is the worst, from every standpoint known except one—it’s the highest type of horrible example I have ever had the bad fortune to see. Its return not only implies lack of merit, but shouts it—and I mean how! You ought to thank us on bended knees that we didn’t enclose a time- bomb with it, so you’d be sure and not ever bother us again. If you ever | do, it will be too soon, and the head- lines will read ‘Well-Known Editor a Suicide; No Reason Ascribed for Act.’ So have a heart and save my life. Yours more in sorrow than anger, THE EDITORS.” Still Thin Still young, still lovely So easy to fight fat Have you wondered: why the extra-fat: ‘of old days have so largely disappeared? The chief reason lies in a scientific discovery made some 25 years ago. Medical research found that a great cause of excess fat lay in a deficient gad, A way to correct it was dis- covered, Since then, physicians the world over have employed this method in the fight on fat. A famous medical laboratory perfected the utmostin this method in Marmola prescription tablets. People have used them for 21 years— millions of boxes of them. You can see the results wherever you look. Excess fat in men and women is nowhere near as common as it was. No starvation, no over-work, corrects the cause of excess fat, but moderation helps. When the cause lies in a defective gland, that cause must be corrected. The slender figures that you see about you are largely due to Marmola. The new youth and beauty, new health and vigor that you envy. You do yourself a grave injustice if you othe a is this gland defici ec to correct leficiency. No abnormal exercise or diet. Simply take four tablets daily until weight comes down to aor roma Yon will Fe delighted. Bo the vitality return. You wil lighted. i Now te live life at the full. You should not delay a day. jarmola prescription tablets are reldby ail druggists at $1 per box. If your druggist is out, he i get them at once from his. jobt ILA “Do you play any games of skill?” “Chess.” A Homey Hotel in New York! Discriminating Women Ch THE ANSONIA BROADWAY AT 73 ST NEW YORK 1400 LARGE ROOMS Comfortably Furnished Soundproof Walle Room and Private Bath from $3.00 For two persons..from $5.00 In a_ restricted, residential district, 5 minutes to all the- atres and shops. TURKISH BATHS EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN comicbooks.com