Life, 1929-05-17 · page 50 of 52
Life — May 17, 1929 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **advertising and serialized fiction**, not political satire. The main content is a melodramatic romantic story about two shipwrecked lovers, John Henry and Marion. The narrative is intentionally overwrought—featuring angry quarrels, tender reconciliations, and ultimately both characters dying of exposure on a desert island. This appears to be satirizing the overwrought sentimentality of popular serialized fiction and silent film plots of the era, with exaggerated emotional swings and tragic endings. The advertisements promote **Phoenix Hosiery** (stockings) and **Reddy Tees** (golf equipment), typical consumer goods marketed in Life magazine. "Mrs. Pep's Diary" (continued from an earlier page) is a philosophical poem about mortality and nature, seemingly unrelated to the page's other content. The overall effect suggests Life mixed serious literature, satire of popular melodrama, and conventional advertising—typical of the magazine's format as a general-interest publication.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The perfect complement to good clothes is Phoenix. Smart, up-to-the-minute style distinguishes this fine, sturdy hose. Its timely patterns are skillfully woven into its famous long-mileage texture. Phoenix provides the season’s new- est designs with the greatest economy. 50c to $2.00 a pair. PHOENIX HOSIERY Aninvitation to S-M-A-C-K it! When. the ball sets up so pretty on a Reddy Tee, you never think of dubbing a drive. Instead, a nice clean poke and away she sails—out past the 200 yard line. Reddy Tees actually make it easier to hit the ball. That’s why Champions play off with them—and the good players in every club use them. Reddy Tees were invented by a lover of the game who didn’t like the wet, sticky sand cutting his fingers and spoiling his grip. Thus he con- tributed to your comfort and plea- sure as well as his own, Ask your professional for Reddy Tees. REDDY TEE Buy from your “Pro” Now that I have no shadows or tracks, you ask me to signal a ship.” He was very bitter. “Shut yer dern trap,” yelled the beautiful girl, angry herself. “You men are all alike. I should have known better than to get shipwrecked with you.” Then she softened. After all, she had a heart of gold. Only those who have starved to death can understand what made her speak so harshly. “Tl sock you in the eye,” said John Henry, abashed. Marion hung her beautiful head and blushed. The picture was too lovely. “Will you marry me?” John Henry stam- mered. Marion’s answer was a sigh as she sank into her lover's arms. Nothing could hold John Henry now. He jumped to his feet and be- gan calling for a ship. He called for two ships, a dozen ships, a thousand ships. All that night, and the next, and the next, John Henry called ships. But no ships came. He called British ships, American ships, French ships, Italian ships, Ger- man ships, Swiss ships and even Chi- nese ships. He called entire navies. Expense didn’t matter. But no ships came. He tried calling taxis—no_ result. He whistled for a dog—no dog. He called long distance—no answer. John had missed his calling. Weeks later, clasped in each other's arms, John Henry and Marion suc- cumbed to exposure. John dug a gtave for her under a palm tree. He placed her in it tenderly, threw in the dirt and built a pyramid of stones above her to keep the wild animals away. Then she did the same for him. Mrs. Pep’s Diary (Continued from Page 42) Hands void of haste, and feet forgot to run. Yet Death rends not in twain the veil of things. So, Lazarus-like, I watch the sunlight fall On children at their play, breathe deep the Spring's Shy incenses, and hear the thrushes call, Finding them every one—hearts, petals, wings, Curious, lovely, immaterial. But there is small danger of my getting even so much as a line of dog- gerel out of my philosophy. This night the scales did show that I have lost nine pounds in two weeks, for which I do thank God. ‘Tie Paxton Purse Co. CLEVELAND comicbooks.com