Life, 1909-10-21 · page 20 of 32
Life — October 21, 1909 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (a satirical publication) contains humor pieces and advertisements typical of the early 20th century. **The Cartoons/Jokes:** The main content includes several short humorous pieces: "Small, But Potent" (a riddle about bribes), "His Fruit Diet" (a doctor/patient joke about cherries in cocktails), and several anecdotes including "Going—Going—" (a darkly comic story about a dying auctioneer whose pulse becomes an auction item) and "A Strange Coin" (travel-related humor). **The Advertisements:** The page features ads for Makaroff Russian Cigarettes (positioning them as superior to imitations) and Truffault Hartford Shock Absorbers for automobiles, framing them as essential for "comfortable motoring." **Context for Modern Readers:** The humor relies on wordplay and social observations about early 1900s life—vacation packing, dining, bribery norms, and motoring. The cigarette ad assumes smoking as normal; the auto ads target an emerging automobile culture. The overall tone is genteel satirical humor aimed at middle-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Small, But Potent What simplifies vacation trp, Speeds trunk and suit case, rug and grip, From traveling all cares can strip? What means choice morsels, browned and spiced, All beverages nicely iced, Or melons generously sliced? What keeps one's coat so neatly brushed, One’s hat from being banged or crushed, Means mails most prompt, and message rushed? What conquers surliness, wins smiles, né by its potent wiles, serene for miles and miles? What, given oft grudgingly by man, By woman never—if she can— Is bribe polite for white, black, : Times. His Fruit Dict Doctor: You should always take a little fruit WAIT old-fashioned enough to MOVED IN HERE cocktail.—Philadelphia SINCE We insist upon a cherry in Record. THE BARREL! ig published ever ‘Tharaday, simultaneously inthe United S Pmsessione, ssn year inadvanee, Addional preuge Union. $1 va vear: ta Canada, $2 cents, Single current copies 1 Morita trom Ave of pbileaion, cent. tant No contribution will be resurned wenless accompanied by stamped and addressed ¢ does not hold itself vesponibte for the lows or Hon wasatio Liraia tor sic by at Newsdealers in Great Bie BEEN A PUZZLE TO ME HOW THAT WATER GOT INTO “Going—Going—" The auctioneer had auctioneered for the he time, for he was very ill and lay now almox » death's door. Beside his bed stood the doctor and the ay. tioneer's wife, anxiously watching each sym». tom, each movement, each respiration. “Doctor,” hoarsely whispered the hamae. wielder’s wife, “ what is his pulse now?" The doctor raised the patient's wrist “His pulse,” he answered, “is now going 104 The auctioncer sat up excitedly in bed. “Going at 10g!" he cried feebly. “ Going a: 10g! Who'll make it 105? Do I hear 105 fe a pulse that has been running steadily {or f seven years and never once stopped! Will yey bid 105? Who'll make it 105?" But no one made it 105. And a minute lane the auctioneer was going—going—gone!—Cb- cago Daily Socialist. A Strange Coin Neruew (just returned from abroad): frane piece, aunt, I got in Paris. ‘Aust Heresy: T wish, nephew, you'd fetebel home one of them latin quarters they talk » much about.—Courier-Journal. This Suitn (at the club): Yes, by Jove, there's very little you can teach me. I’ve been every. where, done everything, seen everything ! Tue Scorcn Meer: Young man, did ye ever have D.Ts.? Smit: D.Ts.! Great Scott, no! Tue Scotcn Memuer: Then ye've < —Sketeh, TWO DAYS AGO, IT’S. en nowt The Success of MAKAROFF RUSSIAN CIGARETS has brought out a host of imitations. If you ever tried one of them you probably haven't much use for a Russian cigaret. A lot of people have asked for Makaroffs and gotten something else—not always the dealer's fault, because we haven't been able to supply everybody un now. Now there's no excuse for the dealer. He has them or can get them instanter from his local jobber. SAY “MAKAROFF” TO YOUR DEALER TODAY and treat yourself to a clean, pure smoke of real tobacco and nothing else. Plain, cork-tip or mouthpiece. Fifteen Cents and a Quarter. Pppetiarof - lb oclrn Is a forceful reminder of the fact that thousands of motorists and most of the leading automobile manufacturers have long ago discovered TRUFFAULT HARTFORD SHOCK ABSORBERS Are indispensable for comfortable motoring. “Join the enthusiasts.” Write for booklet and our little monthly maga: Comfort, * which is of interest to every automobili See us at the Automobile Shows HARTFORD SUSPENSION COMPANY Edw. V. Hartford, Pres. 165 BAY BAY STREET Ey 3 JERSEY CITY, N. J. comicbooks.com