Life, 1910-03-24 · page 25 of 44
Life — March 24, 1910 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **Main Cartoon:** A woman instructs a man ("Mr. Isaacstein," likely a Jewish name) in dancing, with the caption mocking his balance. The humor plays on ethnic stereotypes common to the era. **"Practice That Made Perfect":** A barber's anecdote about maintaining his skills by shampooing coconuts while stranded on an island—absurdist humor mocking the notion that any practice, however silly, maintains proficiency. **Three Brief Quips:** Social commentary on modern life—philosophy about self-improvement, a dig at bridge players, and jokes about Reno (famous for divorces), widow remarriage, and how hatred stems from former intimacy. The overall tone is lighthearted social satire reflecting Jazz Age attitudes toward courtship, class, and human behavior. Ethnic humor was standard for the period, though offensive by modern standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WELL, MR, ISAACSTEIN, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING DANCING LESSONS. “DER BALANCE FORWARD.” Practice That Made Perfect “WES, sir," says the barber, deftly rubbing the lather into the scalp of the patron, “I was ship's barber on a transpacific steamer for five years, until the ship was wrecked and I was cast away on an island in the South Seas. I lived there for two years and never saw a human being, but when I was rescued I flatter myself I was a better shampooer thanever. I kept in practice all the time.” “How did you manage it?" asks the patron. “T shampooed the cocoanuts.”” E: A philosopher says: “The only 21 thing worth while in life is trying to do something you can't—and doing it.” Sue. (sweetly) : Is that why you play bridge? WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT IT?"" In Reno E: There goes that handsome widow Jenkins, Sue: Widow? widowreno! Why, she’s only a OULDS rush in where angels fear to wed ASTING hate is always built on friendship.