Life, 1909-04-01 · page 37 of 52
Life — April 1, 1909 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct humorous stories: **"Wasn't That Slick?"** presents a con-artist anecdote about a man negotiating wedding expenses with Jonas. After carefully itemizing costs that reduce his expected $2,000 profit to $848, Jonas performs a clever reversal: he accounts for a tip the man would have given a carriage driver, reducing what's owed to merely 12 cents—then proposes they "toss" (gamble) for the remainder. The joke satirizes sharp business dealings and the absurdity of penny-pinching negotiations. The second story (heading partially visible) depicts a circus scene where a man instructs the ticket-taker to admit all boys gathered at the tent entrance, then leaves. The implied punchline suggests the man exploited the boys' free admission as a distraction or scam, though the OCR cuts off the conclusion. Both stories mock petty fraud and clever deception in everyday transactions—a satirical commentary on 1909 American business culture and human nature. The page is otherwise filled with period advertisements (Diamond tires, collars, European tours).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
(Continued from page 452) For two suits, which you didn't get.. suquet for bride. One week more of a wedding trip. which now isn't nece day.. 105 Four ushers’ ties and pins » 60 rriage to station... 4 That makes ....... $304 ch, deducted from the $2,000 we agreed I would make by the transaction, leaves $1,696, and one-half of this is $848. Is that right, Jonas, boy? You know, business is business.”” Jonas, dazed for a moment, gazed absently at check. Then he put his hand in his pocket pulled out a dime and three cents. You're almost right,” he replied. “ But to be exact, you know, I would surely have given the driver of that carriage a twenty-five cent tip. That means that there is in reality coming to you. Here's 12 cents. Now, sir, tell you what I'll do—I'll toss you for the oad ce Wasn't That Slick? The usual crowd of small boys was gathered about the entrance of a circus tent in a small pushing and trying to get a glimpse of the interior. A man standing near watched “ 3 them for a few moments, then walking up to the : t-taker he said with an air of authority: “Let all these boys in, and count them as they 5 * said the man, smiling as he wa * _ASCENDENCY thought I guessed Home Journal. Sie: i THREE ; Improvements give in | ~ ’ Diamond) 1909 Tires roc TRADE MAR’ More tire value than ever offered in America or Europe THE- DIAMOND RUBBER CO fj |} AKRON, OHIO. No. Quarter sizes. FIELD CLUB—The newest type of a perfect fitting close front | HM —IS . sous —1S-RIGH rourss [UROPE Corliss-Coon iy ais ecb Veena Tata mehg the Continent by all routes. Hand Made Collars x 4 =” $150 TO $1,195 2 for 25¢ 5 ? cluded: Private tmited lusive The hand made collars talked about. They do their osn demonstrating for style, fit and lasting qualities. Korth Cape and That i why to many men who care prefer— THOS. COOK & SON Send enn New York (4 Offces), Rost, Phdadelotis, Chicago. Montreal Sen Franca, and 100 Oslces Atwood arama oot At most all the best shops everywhere for new style book, showing all the atest shapes “it will help you in your collar selection MOKNING DEVOTIONS REFORE THE G ‘Alt Over the Corliss, Coon & Co., Dept. J, Troy, N.Y. BEAUTY 497 comicbooks.com