Life, 1911-12-14 · page 26 of 40
Life — December 14, 1911 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three brief humorous stories typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines: **"Too Talkative"** satirizes a taciturn Scandinavian suitor (Ole) who, after his fiancée complains he never talks, responds that too much has already been said—mocking both his silence and ethnic stereotype. **"The Depot Was Lost"** plays on a Chinaman's broken English, where his statement that "Depot lost" is misunderstood as him being lost, when he means the depot itself is missing—ethnic humor based on language barriers. **"The Mule Was Uninjured"** presents Senator John Sharp Williams recounting a story where a mule kicks a Black driver unconscious, yet an older Black man claims the *mule* is merely "tendah" (tender) and will recover—the joke relies on minstrel-style dialect and inverts sympathy toward the animal over the injured man. The remainder consists of period advertisements for Brooks Brothers clothing and Usher's whisky. All humor depends on ethnic stereotypes common to the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Too Talkative It was a beautiful evening and Ole, who had screwed up courage to ta Mary for a ride, was carried away by the magic of the night. “Mary,” he asked, me?” “Yes, Ole,” she answered soft Ole lapsed into a silence that at last became painful to his fiancée. Ole,” she said desperately, “ why don't you say something? “Ay tank,” Ole replied, “they bane too much said already.” “will you marry —Success. The Depot Was Lost Ciivamax: You tellee me where ra road depot? Citizex: What's matter, John? Lost? Cutwamas: Not me here. Depot lost ies’ Home Journal Apprepriate Sign at rear of a doctor's auto- STRAIGHT AND mobile ILL.—Chicago Tribune. werent” NARROW The Mule Was Uninjured Senator John Sharp Williams, whose supply of darky stories scems inexhaust- ible, tells this new one: “Twas proceeding leisurely along a Georgia road on foot one day, when } met a conveyance drawn by a mule and containing a number of negro. field. hands. The driver, a darky of about twenty, was endeavoring to induce the mule to increase its speed, when sud denly the animal let fly with his heels and dealt him such a kick on the head that he was stretched on the ground in a twinkling. He lay rubbing his woolly pate where the mule had kicked ““Ts he hurt?’ I asked anxiously of an older negro, who had jumped from the conveyance and was standing over the prostrate driver. No, boss,’ was the older man’s ; ‘dat mule walk kind 0” tendah for a day or two, but he ain’t hurt” —Lippincott's A Gift “What is the use of this article?” asked a shopper. “I really don’t know,” replied the clerk; “I think it is intended to be sold for a Christmas present.” —Harper’s Magazine. Lire is pablisbed every T! | AGENTS, Brentano's, 37 Ave. de Opera, Paris also at Surat Possessions. L . dons 148 Rue da Faubourg, The sees and ihareuions ip Live are comegited, Tor Reprint Rich Seuthamprem Raw, Lindon, W. Promet nuife resed envelope, Lire dues mat held itself vs Company, Breazis Bott theald be went by subscribers of any change L addres : stagusaco 18! ~F D Bohs Sirothiord, eS LOTHING;) » Goutlemens Finishing Goods. Christmas Suggestions— Fur and Fur Lined Coats; Rugs; Caps; Boots and Gloves. Trunks, Bags, Travelling Coats and Shawls. Dressing Cases, or their separate fittings. Dressing Gowns; Breakfast Jackets; Slippers; Automobile Trunks, Luncheon Baskets; Angora and Shetland Garments. Umbrellas and Walking Sticks; Pipes and Pouches. Many-Novelties from the West End London Shops. Send for booklet “Christmas Suggestions.” BROADWAY, Cor. TWENTY-SECOND ST., NEW YORK EDINBURGH G.S.NIC AS & CO. NEW YORK.SOLE AGENTS comicbooks.com