Life, 1911-09-28 · page 28 of 42
Life — September 28, 1911 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical anecdotes and advertisements typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor. **"Good Listeners"** mocks political speechmaking: Senator Swanson recounts his first speech, which opened with classical references (Herodotus) before a heckler interrupted—the joke being that even erudite oratory cannot impress working-class audiences ("man with the red shirt"). **"Cured Her, First Pop"** uses domestic humor: a husband prevents his wife's regret over marrying him by grieving *with* her until she stops—suggesting that shared misery bonds couples. **"The Just Robbed"** depicts a confused customer asking for "boot-lace" (shoelace) at an upscale lace counter, expecting fine textiles like Valenciennes lace. The satire targets both the salesman's obsequious verbosity and the customer's bewilderment in a department store. The page also includes a satirical advertisement encouraging pessimism—ironic praise of joining a "Pessimists' Club"—and an ad for Adler-Rochester clothes emphasizing craftmanship over profit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
al Good Listeners Senator Swanson of V good story on himself about the first political speech he ever made. He “1 jumped up and began, *Gentlenen, Herodotus tells us—— “Which ticket’s he on?" yelled the man with the red shirt “* Herodotus tells us,’ I resumed with a gulp, ‘of a whole army that was put to flight by the braying of an ass.’ The crowd applauded and I felt fine. Then the man’s voice rose above the din. “*Young feller’ he called, ‘you needn't be afraid for this crowd. It’s been tested.’ "—Buffalo Commercial. Cured Her, First Pop “Does your wife often grieve because she threw over a wealthy man in order to marry you?” he started to once, but I cured her of it the first rattle out of the bo: “I wish you would tell me how. “I started right in to grieving with inia tells a YLANT SISSor Ore Ze M1. 5 The Just Robbed: wourn you Mixo COMING NOME WITIE ME AND VERIFYING MY STORY OF WHAT BECAME OF TITE Pay And the Salesman Said— He walked slowly up to the counter of the great universal emporium facing the well-known and | Hotel, and stammered something about lace to the man behind the counter. “Lace, sir,” tainly, sir, We have the largest stoc in the city. Will Valenciennes lace do you? Jones! Valenciennes forward!” began the shopper “Tut I only: “Or perhaps some point lace? Our gel, de revolves very on the mith! Lace forw e 1 “We have every variety, sir, don't you worry. We shall be able to suit you.” “T know, but “Here is the Valenciennes. Not what you require? Then what lace would you 2” like, sir? “T want a boot-lace, please —Tit-Bits. “Do you think it is possible in th times for an honest man to get rich Certainly it is possible. Most of the rich men arc honest.” “Yes, I know, but were they honest —— her. And I grieved harder and longer ENVELOPE? than she did."—Houston Post. —Chicago Record-Herald. Lave is published every Thursday, simultaneously in she Unized seate Chancery Lane, Landon. 7 Ave. de alvo at Sanrbach’s Ponemionn. $5.00 4 year ia advance, Additional postage to foreign cou News Exchanges, 16 Joba Se. Acelp Denis. Patsy Te current copier, 10 cents. 1. Via Guntaro Modena, Milany May The text and ilistrationt im LAK are copyrighted. Fer Reprint Rights im Great Britain aptly to Live, 114 Swuthampton Rete, Londen W, Ce. Prompt natifcation sheald be went by subscribers of any change Uf addres Do you permit any sunshine in your life ? Be honest with yourself and blot it out. before they got rich?” | Are you cheerful? Get rid of it. | | ere are more than a thousand clothes manufacturers in the The Pes clothes. This famous make is the product of the finest tailoring institution ‘The Book of Men‘sFa hionsis sent free on request. Simply ask for Edition J. iT . { destiny, in hopes that something may turn | ; Pride Before Profit Be warned in time. | United States. More than ten thousand merchants tell their mists’ Club offers every disadvan- ‘Are you dealing with one of these merchants? Are you getting | something of the shop near you where are sold Be m pessimist ! | in the world—a model plant where master craftsmen work with health f LADLER.BROS.&CO.—ROCHESTER.N.Y. = —_— E B P 1 1 ! e a Fessimist! Are you struggling against your inevitable | up? Don't doit. It's a waste of time. Do you recover easily from discouragement? A Tribute to Certain Worthy Clothiers | ] product. Of these, a certain number put pride before profit in tage. Surrounded by pessimists, you are sure to be perpetually despondent. the best clothes your money will buy? If not, it’s time you knew and happiness, sunlight and fresh air for helpers. i comicbook eum