Life, 1912-02-08 · page 37 of 44
Life — February 8, 1912 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes two unrelated elements: **advertising** (Woodbury's Facial Soap and Matheson automobiles) and **literary content** featuring "Wellerisms"—humorous quotations from Charles Dickens's *Pickwick Papers*. The "Wellerisms" are comic dialogues attributed to Sam Weller, a character famous for mangling language and logic. The quoted passages showcase his malapropisms and deadpan absurdity (e.g., claiming he "assisted natur'" when helping someone die, comparing marriage to poisoning oneself). These were popular parlor entertainment in the early 20th century—readers enjoyed the character's intentional verbal fumbles and sardonic worldview. The extended "Marriage" passage presents Mr. Weller (Sam's father) dispensing cynical advice to his son about matrimony, culminating in his dark joke recommending suicide over marriage—humor based on exaggerated misogyny toward mothers-in-law. **Context**: Life magazine regularly reprinted literary excerpts alongside advertisements, blending "refined" culture with consumer goods for educated, middle-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wellerisms “Mornin’, gen'l'm’n,” said Sam, entering at the moment with the shoes and gaiters, “ avay vith melincholly, the little boy said ven his schoolmissis died.” —Pickwick “Don't say nothin’ wotever about it, ma’am,” replied Sam. “I only as- sisted natur’, ma’am; as the doctor said to the boy’s mother, arter he’d bled him to death.” —Pickwick, Arren THe Winter, Your SKIN NEEDS RUPKUSIING Examine your skin closely See if the pores have become large and clogged; if it has los: its smooth- ness; if it has grown colorless. The constant strain imposed upon the skin during the winter months when we cat heavy foods and take almost no exercise, makes it unable to withstand such trying conditions, Each spring, it needs refreshing. To refresh your skin Woodbury’s Facial Soap re-supplics what is pelbdany from the skin by these conditions. If used regularly, Woodbury’s arouses your skin, keeps it active, makes it glow with health. Get acake today. Notice its stimu- lating tonic effect the first time you use it. Thisisa promise of what its steady use will do. Woodbury’s costs 25¢ a cake. No one hesitates at the price after their first cake. Write today for samples For 4c we will send a sample cake, For 0c, samples of Woodbury's Facial Soap, Wood- yury's Facial Cream and Woodbury's Facial Powder. For soc,a copy of the Woodbury Book on the care of the skin and scalp and samples ofthe Woodbury preparations. The Andrew lereens Co.. 2605 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, pone. H.wOoosURY$ Woodbury’s Facial Soap For sale by dealers everywhere Matheson “Silent Six.” Luxurious closed bodies of the’ latest. designs by Quinby and) Brewster. A tried and proven chassis of remarkable workmanship. Marriage “I'm a-goin’ to leave you, Samivel, my boy, and there’s no telling ven I shall see you again. Your mother-in- law may ha’ been too much for me, or a thousand things may have happened by the time you next hears any news o” the celebrated Mr. Veller o’ the Bell Savage. The family name depends wery much upon you, Samivel, and I hope you'll do wot’s right by it. Upon all little pints o’ breedin’, I know I may 321 trust you as vell as if it was my own self. So I’ve only this here one little bit of adwice to give you. If ever you gets to up’ards o’ fifty and feels dis- posed to go a-marryin’ anybody—no matter who—jist you shut yourself up in your own room, if you've got one, and pison yourself offhand. Hangin’s wulgar, so don’t you have nothin’ to say to that. Pison yourself, Samivel, my boy, pison yourself, and you'll be glad on it arterwards. —Mr. Weller, Sr. igi chttick,