Life, 1910-07-21 · page 28 of 40
Life — July 21, 1910 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several brief humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical style: **Main Comic Strip:** "When Mother Took to Slang" depicts a mother adopting contemporary slang speech while her family reacts with dismay and disapproval. The joke satirizes generational language gaps and how jarring it was when older people adopted youth slang—treating it as undignified behavior that embarrasses the household. **Right Column Jokes:** Several short comic anecdotes mock social pretense and misunderstandings—a doctor swallowing a button, an employee losing luggage, and a definition of "worldly wisdom" as knowing neighbors' faults. These are standard vaudeville-style gag fare. **Illustration:** A man beckoning an alligator from a riverbank with "Come on in, the water's fine"—a darkly ironic visual gag about false reassurance leading to danger. **Advertisement:** An "Usher in the New Year" whiskey ad featuring six figures in period costume, promoting Usher's Whisky as an appropriate holiday drink. The page reflects early 20th-century American humor's focus on language, class anxieties, and gentle domestic comedy rather than sharp political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SANT Mt Jel5§eR5 53°85, AY When Mother Teck to —ian Once m er broke out into slang! We'd often heard her say Naught else was talked around her rom dawn till close of day; Aud mother she: was joyful: “They've put me wise,” cricd she “Tt knocks me how [ used to talk! But, sure, that’s one on me! When mother took to talking slang, It was a mournful And dad and all us children Just listened in dismay ; But mother she was merry: “Oh, drop it now!’? quoth she; “Cut out the grouch; come, be a sport; Or else the joke’s on me!" When mother took to talking slang, The houschold speechless grew, And father groaned, and sister moaned, And all us children, too; ther dear was happy: said she; “T've learned it good and plenty, And [hope you're pleased with Century. nce. Additional postage to foreis ‘Single current copies, 10 cents. amped and addressed envelope, be retin id itvelf reeponsible ” elicited contr in or nate by alt Newaderlers sn nada and ne Postal after three Lire Nothing Serious ypen “Great guns! I've swallowed lar button! "’ exclaimed the first Qi in the dressing-room “Here, I'l lend you one of 1 answered the other, with exaggerate diflerence—Bufalo Express Send f “Waar part of a railway train de das the most dangerous? d the nervous man. Phe dining car,"” answered th: peptic Exchange. Not a Bit Left Where's your luggage, asked an employer of the new all-work upon. his “Lost, “Ivery bit of it, sur,” replied Mike For “But how did it happen? employer. Appr “The divil of a cork ca att, Wh answered Mike—Ladies’ Home Journal Worldly Wisdom Larten Witte: Say, Pa, what is worldly wisdom ? . Pa: Worldly wisdom, my son, is a Comb perfect knowledge of the failings of Are neighbors —Chicago News. And] Is es, 16 John Mayence, Ger . London, IW, d be sent by subscribers of any change of address. Howe But To fir Nea Still, He As fla Wi Let th And Let C Fro Wille Distillers, Edinburgh, &. * Hickolas & Co. New Y Sole Agents. The COME ON IN, THE WATER'S FINI comicbooks.com