Life, 1911-06-22 · page 31 of 44
Life — June 22, 1911 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This brief comic narrative satirizes aggressive door-to-door salesmanship, a common frustration in early 20th-century American life. A persistent book agent sells the same volume twice to the same household—once to the husband, once claiming the husband ordered a second copy. When the enraged husband chases the agent down the street, a neighbor's motorcar interrupts the pursuit. The joke targets the resourcefulness of canvassers who exploit social conventions and inattention to make repeat sales. The "three times" likely refers to: the initial sale, the duplicate sale, and the implied third encounter as the husband pursues. It reflects growing annoyance with aggressive commercial tactics that exploited middle-class homes lacking consumer protections. The page is otherwise advertisements—Cape Cod tourism, a sexology book, and Gillette razors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Quaint Cape Cod” Send for this Book Cape Cod’s the place where you would enjoy | yourself this summer. We've a beautifully illustrated book that tells about the summer pleasures that await you on Cape Cod—the. yachting, the bathing, the fishing, the golfing, and the social life. Before you decide where to go this summer, send for “Quaint Cape Cod.” It's free. ADVERTISING BUREAU Room 655 ee. South Station Boston, Mass. Three Times—and Out A resourceful canvasser is a hard man to get the best of. Witness the experi- ences of the Cohoes man, of whom At- torney-General Wickersham told in a re- cent after-dinner speech. On the way to the railroad station one morning he was halted by a book agent, and being a great reader he bought a book for five dollars. “It will be something to read on the train,” he thought, as he gave his name and accepted a receipt. It was a dull book, however, and the Cohoes man left it at his office; but on his return home that evening there was another copy on the library table, and his wife explained that the agent had left it, and had collected five dollars, saying that such were her husband's orders, The Cohoes man was wild with rage. “If Thad that agent here,” he growled, “T'd kill him, the dastardly hound!” “Why, there he gocs now!” cried his wife. “Look—hurrying down the street toward the station!” The Cohoes man rushed upstairs for his coat and shoes; but while he was dressing, a neighbor came along in a motor car He halted the neighbor from the window. A Happy Marriage Depends largely on a knowl- edge of the whole truth ebdout self and sex and their relation to life and health. This knowledge does not come intelligently of itself, nor correctly from ordinary every-day sources, SEXOLOGY - (Utinstratea\ William H. Walling, A.Mo, M.Day is i Thoiesome way in one volume pesrearatclenss Knowledge a Young Man Should Have. Knowledge a Young Husband’ staid Tave. Knowledge a Father Should lmpart to Siedical Knowledge a Husband should Have: Knowtedce a Young Woman Should Have. Knowtedge @ Young Wife Shauid Have: Knonledes a Marner shevtig tana’ to Her Daught im enpar er. Medical Knowledge a Wite Should Have. soma All In one volume. IMlustrated. $2, postpaid. Wate tor “Owier Penple's Opieions'” and Tabte ot Contents Poritan Pub. Co., 776 Perry Bldg., Phila., Pa. | | How the Flexible Blade Ensures Shaving Comfort Note the curve that gives the automatic adjustment Gillette ss: The STANDARD of SAFETY, EASE ad COMFORT Beards and skins differ individually, Therefore, a blade SUCCESSFUL shave depends on the angle at which the edge of the blade meets the face, fixed at a permanentand unchangeable angle cannot possibly suit every face. The GILLETTE blade, being flexible, can be curved to the correct shaving angie for each individual. A simple turn of the screw handle of the GILL! E SAFETY RAZOR automatically alters the curve of the blade and the space between its edge and the safety guard. The light or heavy beard and tender or strong skin can thus be shaved at the right angle, ensuring ease, safety, speed and comfort. The GILLETTE blade is absolutely rigid in the razor at any stage of its adjustment—it cannot wobble or vibrate, cannot cut, scrape or even irritate the tenderest skin, Use the GILLETTE with a diagonal stroke, just as you would an ordinary razor. Shaving perfection and, comfort always then assured. No stropping—no honing ever necessary. GILLETTE BLADES, packet of 6 (12 shaving edges), 50c; nickel-plated box of 12 (24 shaving edges), $1.00, are gold everywhere. Finest steel. Rust-proof and antiseptic. Keenest and hardest edge ever produced, They relieve you of the bother, waste of time and frequent futility of stropping and honing. Send postal for our free 1911 Baseball or Golf Booklet GiLLeTTeE SALES ComPANy posTosesid& New York, Times Building: Chicago, Stock Exchange Building: Canadian Office, 63 St, Alexander Street, Montreal: Cilette Safety Rator, Lid... London; Eastern Office, Shanghai, China. Factories Boston, Montreal, Leicester. Berlin, Paris, Standard Set $5.00 Combination and Travelers’ Sets, $6.00 to $50.00. “If it's a Gillette—if's The Safety Razor'’ Ask your dealer to show you the GILLETTE Line NO STROPPING ~ NO HONING | “Hurry down to the station and hold up that chap for me!” he cried. “That chap with the books! See?” “Sure,” said the obliging neighbor; and he put on full speed and soon reached the agent. “That man up there on the hill wants you,” he said. “Oh, yes," said the agent, as the train steamed in. “That's Mr Smith. He wants one of my books. Do you mind taking it for him? It's five dol- lars, please.” 119 Then the train steamed off, with the agent on it, and the motorist sped back mith again Here's your book,” he shouted, hold- ing it aloft, “and you owe me five dol- lars!"—Youth’s Companion The Minute Man Touay: My gran'pa wuz in th’ Civit War, an’ he Jost a leg or a arm in every battle he fit in! Jouxsy: Gee! How many battles was he in? Tomsy: About forty—Toledo Blade. comicbooks.com