Life, 1912-06-27 · page 41 of 45
Life — June 27, 1912 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Content:** This page features the satirical "Addenda" section—humorous dictionary definitions mocking contemporary American society circa 1920s. **Key Satire Targets:** - **Marriage**: Redefined as the "chief cause of divorce" and an "old-fashioned institution easily 'RENO'vated" (referencing Reno, Nevada's divorce mills) - **Life Insurance**: Sarcastically linked to the "High Cost of Living" - **Choir/Union**: Political commentary on labor organization as "burning topic of the day" - **Mortgage**: "First aid to the financially injured" - **Cotter Boy**: Described as the "tadpole stage of man" with oversized head, another cause of high living costs - **Home**: Now "obsolete," replaced by clubs; merely a mailing address for bills **The Joke:** Each term receives three definitions—one serious, one absurdist, one biting social commentary. The humor targets economic anxiety, marital instability, labor disputes, and generational excess. **Context:** This reflects 1920s concerns: postwar economic inflation, rising divorce rates, and youth culture critique. The page also includes period advertisements (Thermos bottles, cigars, correspondence courses).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Beggar's Courage: Drchellaleddi Rumy To heaven approached a Sufi saint, From groping in the darkness late, \nd, tapping timidly and faint, Besought admission at God's gate. Said God, “* Who seeks to enter here?” “Tis 1, dear Friend,” the saint re- plied, And trembled much with hope and fear. “If it be thou, without al Sadly to the earth the poor saint turacd, To bear the scourgings of life's rods; Tut aye his heart within him yearned To mix and lose its love in God's. He roamed alone through weary By cruel men still scorned and mocked, Until, from faith's Again he rose, years, pure fires and tears, dl modest’ knocked. Asked God, “ Who now is at the door?” “It is Thyself, beloved Lord!” Answered the saint, in doubt no more. But clasped and rapt in his reward. —From Poetry of the Orient, by W. R. Alger. Copyright by Messrs. Roberts Brothers, Boston, Moss. Reprinted by permission THERMOS For Gifts Golf or Bridge Whist Prizes ‘Thermos as a gift never disappoints and 1s never exchanged. Ope cannot have too many Thermos articies. ‘They are handsome Jn appearance and everyone bas an everyday use for Thermos. For Keeping Iee-water and other beverages culd in the ome, fof serving hot drinkables at lunebeons, card partica, ete., for carrying hot or cold drinks on nvotor, Ashing, hunting and boating trips ra veliing, for keeping babies’ milk cold. clean, germ and fly proof, and for countless other Uses, nothing takes the place of Thermos. Therwes beeye tnyubls tee veld for 3 days or steamlog tor 20 bows, oe AMERICAN THERMOS BOTTLE CO. ‘Thermos Bullding. New York Torrmes Bottle Con Ltd. Fereate, Canada W¥)}/ a The BOTTLE FIFTY EMINENT MEN AND WOMEN OF BRAINS “MADE AT KEY WESTJ— Re | AW righ ts secure! Addenda For the Up-to-Date “ Britannica.” Mauiace—(a) Modern, chief cause of the prevalence of divorce. (b) Former poker term, a nervy draw; trying for a full house on a pair. (ce) An old- fashioned institution easily “ RENO” vated Lire Ixsuraxce—(a) Racing term, plac- money on a “dead one” 10 win (b) Self-evident High Cost of LIVING. Cican—(a) Ameri cause of the nn version, shorthand expression for “* United’ we ‘stand’ Independent we fail.” (b) A light form of amusement. (c) Political, the burning topic of the day. Moxtcace—(a) Psychological, “ Auto ”- suggestion, (b) Medical, first aid to the financially injured. Cotter Bov—(a) “Tadpole stage of man,” marked by a greatly en! useless head, with oversized (of the devil) attached, the former dimin- ishing and the latter generally disap- pearing on entering adult stage. (i) American leisure class. (c) Another cause of the Cost of High Living. Homr—(a) “ Family Resort,” now obso- family having “ clubbed out of existence, (b) An address adopted in common by man and wife for the convenience of the Postman and the Bill Collectors. IPM, red been Citikac, the celebrated physician, when on his deathbed, felt his own pulse, imag- ining that he was on a visit to one of his patients, and cried out: “I have been called too late, the patient is a dead man;" and in a few minutes expired 1325 ‘TEST FOR YOURSELF Mix the best cocktail you know how —test it side by side with a Club Cocktail No matter how good a Cocktail youmake you will notice a smooth- ness and mellowness in the Club Cocktail that your own lacks. Club Cocktails after accurate blending of choice liquors obtain their delicious flavor and delicate aroma by ageing in wood belore bottling. A new cocktail can never have the flavor of an aged cocktail. Manhattan, Martini and other standard blends, bottled, ready to serve through cracked ice. Refuse Substitutes AT ALL DEALERS G. F. HEUBLEIN & BRO., Sole P: Hertford New York” London paws THE UNIVERSITY OF Cuicaco di Study Dept. STUDY jessie roth Year U.of C. (Div. ¥) Chicago. Ill. comicbooks.com