Life, 1906-05-24 · page 24 of 26
Life — May 24, 1906 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a humorous short story about a Swedish immigrant named Tillie, exploiting period stereotypes through heavy dialect humor. The joke hinges on a literal misunderstanding: Tillie has swallowed her newly-purchased false teeth down her throat, but mistakenly believes they've become lodged permanently. The humor operates on multiple levels typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: 1. **Ethnic caricature**: Scandinavian immigrants were mocked for poor English, making Tillie's phonetic speech ("Yaw, meester," "vake opp") the primary comedic vehicle. 2. **Immigration social commentary**: The story references Scandinavians losing teeth due to diet changes and new food in America—a real observation about immigrant health—but exaggerates it absurdly. 3. **Class comedy**: The dentist's bemused reaction to working-class confusion and superstition. The punchline—teeth found under the mattress where she unconsciously removed them—suggests immigrant naiveté and unfamiliarity with her own body's actions. The remaining page content is advertising, unrelated to the cartoon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Toe Teeth HEN Scandinavians come to this country they frequently have trouble with their teeth, Later, owing to the difference in diet, they lose most of their bicuspids and molars, but, fortunately, few Scandinavians have the trouble that Tillie did, and few lose their teeth in so disconcerting a manner. “My funniest patient,” said the sociable dentist, “was a Swedish girl, who came in one day to get her teeth extracted. Her upper jaw . . was absolutely bare of teeth, and the lower set| Liveries for all menservants. was in such condition that there seemed to be nothing to extract. * “Where are the teeth you want out?’ T asked. “Tn mys stomach,’ returned the girl, suddenly bursting into tears. “<Tn your stomach!” I gasped. | “*Yaw, meester,’ she sobbed. ‘Last week my Sensible motoring clothes for | hov buy me all new toots on top vor twanty five dollar, on Chicago. ‘Two days ago my sleep so goot, so-o goot! Ven my vake opp, mys toots she vor all go down mys t’roat. I tank maybe you |can get them out—mys lady she is tole me to come.’ “*Nonsense! They couldn't go down your throat.’ ““Yaw! Yaw!’ protested Tillie, clapping a hand to her belt-buckle, ¢ iss there now. | She iss chew, chew, chew, all the time. She iss chew my all inside up. She iss hurt so moch my iss don’t can sleep.” “Tillie was evidently sincere,” said the dentist, “and 1 was beginning to think that I had a lunatic on my hands, when the day was saved. My office door was flung open and an excited boy | | rushed in. | “0 Tillie,’ he cried, ‘mother just found your | teethtucked under yourmattress!: Youmust have taken them out in your sleep.” Ly goo’ness!’ exclaimed Tillie, apologeti ‘My hov some bodder vit mys toots every | ’"— Youth's Com- Smart, and_ substantial enough to stand the strain. Illustrated livery catalogue on request owners and chauffeurs. ROGERS, PEET & CO., 258—842—1260 Broadway, (3 Stores) NEW YORK, also, F. M. 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It will swallow the watch!’ | “But the bachelor, with a laugh, hastened to reassure her, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. ‘I’ve got hold of the chain, you see. It can’t go far.’”—Cin cinnatt Commercial Tribune said It also contains phosphates, which are | the necessary for the building of bone, teeth, nerve and tissue. You will do yourself and children an injustice if you fail to learn how important Cekenos Satt is to health and strong body building. ay he obtained New York. \ large sample t to so Ferry Stree at your grocers’, of write MATINEE EVERY DAY AT2>—— EVENID rs DOO se odlro: Most Stacro A SOCIETY CIRCUS WITH COURT OF THE GOLDEN FOUNTAINS The Plunging Horses EXTRAORDINARY a eopuction EVER and Sensational New Arenic Acts Osa MOST ANCIENT AND GLORIOUS MOST ANCIENT AND GLORIOUS OF CORDIALS . 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