Life, 1909-09-30 · page 21 of 32
Life — September 30, 1909 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **humor pieces and advertisements** rather than political cartoons. The content reflects early 20th-century attitudes, including racial stereotypes that would be considered offensive today. **"The Six Best Jokes"** section reprints humorous anecdotes submitted by readers. One joke depicts a Black woman in Arkansas beating her husband, played for comedy through dialect humor and the woman's defiant independence. Another describes an African ruler amused by machinery injuring a white factory manager—the humor relies on racial caricature and a stereotype of "primitive" amusement at white misfortune. **The main advertisement** promotes Gillette Safety Razors, emphasizing convenience and safety for businessmen. The razor's portability suits traveling professionals. **Bottom advertisements** include Bromo-Seltzer for headaches and brief comic exchanges ("Just as Good"). The page illustrates how mainstream American humor of this era casually incorporated racial stereotypes and dialect humor as entertainment. Modern readers encounter dated social attitudes rather than sophisticated satire or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Six Best Jokes Culled from Lire’s exchanges for the past week, Back to the Home Roost A traveler in Arkansas came to a cabin and terrifying series of groans and yells. ed as if murder was being committed. shed in and found a gigantic negro veating a wizened little old man with vhile he cried for mercy woman!" shouted the traveler, 9 you mean by beating that man?” mah husban’, an’ I'll beat him all I i ¢ man a few more if he is your husband, you no tight to murder him.” “Go ‘long, white man, and luf me alone. Tl sual beat him som ymoah.” ™ t has he don vs he done? Why, this triflin’ no- gger done lef’ de door of my chicken- pen and all mah chickens done gone uw, that's nothing. They will come No, sub, they'll go back."— ning Post. Pleased His Majesty The dark monarch from sunny Africa was being shown over an engineering place in Sal- ford by the manager, who, in explaining the working of certain machi unfortunately got his coat tails caught in it, and in a mo- s being whirled round at so many Luckily for the mana- ger, his g: © unequal to the strain of more than a few revolutions, and he was hurled, disheveled and dazed, at the feet of the visitor. That exalted personage roared with laughter, and said something to his interpreter. said that functionary to the mana- ger, “lis. majesty say he am berry pleased with de trick, an’ will you please do it again?” —Ske Bits. What He Got A good many ago, in the State of i small boy hocing potatoes H ot by the roadside. A man came fine buggy and driving a fine horse. ed over the fence, stopped and said: aid the boy, “and hell ening Post. “I't introducing a brand new invention—a combined talking machine, carpet sweeper and letter opener,” said the agent, stepping briskly into an office. Got alread ” answered the proprietor. CURES Gillette Safety Razor O matter how skillful a man may be with an or- dinary razor he will occasionally nick his face —and there is always the danger of a bad cut. The Gillette is safe. On some mornings a man is nervous or in a hurry and there are times when “‘his fingers are all thumbs ’’—then there’s special comfort in the Gillette. It requires no stropping or honing. He can shave quickly—clean up all the corners without a cut or scratch. The time to buy a Gillette is now. It pays for itself in three months and it lasts a lifetime. The Gillette, illustrated herewith (actual size), is so compact that it can be carried in the pocket or slipped in the side of a traveling bag. It comes in gold, silver or gun metal—with handle and blade box to match. The blades are fine. Prices $5.00 to $7.50. For sale everywhere. You should know Gillette Shaving Brush — bristles gripped in hard rubbers and Gillette Shaving Stick—a soap worthy of the Gillette Safety azor. Ghitare’Sieck Excnatze uae. GILLETTE SALES CO. ih 528 Kimball Building, Boston Factories: Boston, Montreal, London, Berlin, Paris Just as Good ise Tue Cneerrut One: Never mind, I'll make you another !—Comic Cuts. Tommy. Tommy: Well, no—I haven't. 10¢, 25c, 50c, and $1.00 Bottles. don Opinion. comicbooks.com __ Sue: Oh, George, you've broken your prom- Uxcte: I hope you've been a good boy, Dear, dear! I hope you haven't : NCLE: y HEADACHES Sa TONY N50! Just comfortable “1 5m.