Life, 1908-12-03 · page 33 of 68
Life — December 3, 1908 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Going Too Far"** satirizes social pretentiousness and the absurdity of excessive hospitality demands. Mr. Dimpleton accepts his Uncle Bob's Christmas farm invitation while insulting everything about the visit—refusing the host's cigars, beds, wine, and food; mocking rural life; and rejecting farm activities. His wife is mortified, assuming he's destroyed the relationship. The joke's twist: Uncle Bob accepts *all* these conditions and invites *himself* to stay at the Dimpletons' house instead, turning the tables. The satire mocks guests who disguise ingratitude as fastidiousness, while also suggesting that genuine (if simple) hospitality cannot be truly offended—Uncle Bob calls Dimpleton's bluff by adopting his own stated preferences. The secondary cartoon "In Paris" shows a mouse in mistletoe, making a lighthearted reference to the Christmas kissing tradition while playing on tourist clichés.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“litt LIFE‘ 88 Going Too Far RS. DIMPLETON: Didn't Uncle Bob write you some time ago ‘that he wanted us to come up to the coun- try and spend Christmas with him at his farm? Dimptetox: He confound him! Mrs. Dirieton: What do you mean? What did you write in reply? Dinpieton: I wtote accepting the invi- tation on the following conditions: I told him frankly that I didn’t want to smoke his cigars, that I had a brand of my own did, FOR THE LITTLE CROES!. which suited me perfectly. I said that I would send on ‘my own bed spring and clothing beforehand by express, as I didn’t care to sleep in any of his beds. I told him I would bring along my own wine, as I had had enough of the home made variety, and as I wasn’t fond of turkey, I would have some duck sent up from the market. I also suggested that I hated the sight of cattle and hens, and nothing bored me more than to have to wade around in mud and inspect a lot of outhouses filled with corn and hay. Also, that I didn’t know how to dangle a baby on my knee, and never under any circumstances rode in a single cylinder _ automobile. I wound up by saying that if he wanted us under these condi- tions, we would be only too glad to come. Mrs. Dintrteton : Oh, Henry, how could you! Why, Uncle Bob will never speak to us again. You must have mortally offended him. And he’s such a good old soul. Diartetox: Don’t you worry about that. He's not so simpic. I just got his reply. Mrs. Dimpreton: And what does ETON (groaning): He says that he has long wanted to live in the way I suggest, and that it would really be cheaper and better for us to have him and his family come here! In Paris UIDE: Want a guide? Show you everything you ought to see in Paris, . Tourist: No, thanks; I'd rather see the things I oughtn't to see Miss Mouse: tTuere, Now, 1P PERCY MOUSE OR SOMEBODY DOESN'T SEE ME SOON, I'LL GET TO BELIEVE THERE'S NOTH- ING IN THIS MISTLETOE BUSI- NE: comicbooks.com