Life, 1912-08-08 · page 28 of 40
Life — August 8, 1912 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **Main Content:** The page features brief humorous anecdotes and jokes rather than political cartoons. The "Often True" section quotes Signor Marconi (the inventor of wireless technology) praising American democracy, contrasting it with European class systems. A gardener's retort—that old family lineage is like old seed that produces worse crops—serves as satire on European aristocratic pretension. **Other Jokes:** Brief comedic exchanges mock summer boarding (Elizabeth township being cheap), dinner guest etiquette, and a magistrate's compliment to a criminal about his "cunning." **Advertisements:** The page is dominated by period ads: Arrow Collar (targeting men concerned with fashion) and the Truffault-Hartford Shock Absorber (promoting automotive comfort). **Overall Context:** Rather than biting political satire, this reflects *Life*'s role as a genteel humor magazine for educated, middle-class readers, combining light social observation with commercial advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Often True Signor Marconi, in an interview in Washington, praised American democ- §CI5§0 vi WyLly pean — 1 man for what he is himself—not for Interesting Chats | | what his family is—and thus you remind ] me of the gardener in Bologna who helped me with my first wireless appa ratus “ As my mother’s gardence and I were working on my apparatus together a young count joined us one day, and while he watched us work the count boasted of his lineage. “The gardener, after listening a long while, smiled and sai “If you come from an ancient fam- ily, it's so much the worse for you, sir; r for, we gardeners say, the older the sced the worse the crop.” —New York Tribune. “Where are you going for the sum- mer?" “I'm going to board with some people out in Elizabeth township,” “Why do you go there?” “To be frank, because it is che: “And how do you pass the tim “Oh, there are some other guests, We all sit around and explain why we got tired of Newport.”—Pittsburgh Post. When Visitors Came “ Mother,” asked the little one, on the occasion of a number of gues present at dinner, “ will the dessert hurt me, or is there enough to go round?” —Sacred Heart Review. being Macistrate (about to commit for trial) : You certainly effceted the robbery in a remarkably ingenious way; in fact, Boss Bauer: What? You have cut with quite exceptional cunning. the gentleman four times? Well, just for Prisoner: Now, yer honor, no flattery, vunishment you must shave him all over EXTRACT FROM . POPULAR NOVEL please; no flattery, I begs yer. . right away !—Fliegende Blatter, “THERE WAS A CRY OP DESPAIR AS HE —London Sketch. cously in tne United Staies, Great nal portage to foreigs countn copies. 10 cents. Back numoe eof pablication, 25 ceuth. Isnues prot to 1910 oat of pei eet» Las bandit es . The text and illustrations in Lave are eopvrigites. Tor Reprint Rights im Great Britain apply t Larr, 114 ution wall be recarned uniest accimpanied br wamped and addrnied enveiert, LAVE dies nut bald iti? Syuthampiom howe, Lencone Wee for the bass 07 non-return of united eantrtoutien __ Lane is for sale by all Newsdealers iu Great Britain, London Oifce of Lave, Mies Bail ain, Canada and British fn the Portal Union, $1.04 after three mo Chancery. Prompt navifcation shi se sent by subscribers ef any change ef address. Motor in comfort with the Feultautt Hartford SHOCK ABSORBER COMFORT has the call these days. Every car builder secks for it; every car owner demands it. The pleasure of motoring is heavily discounted if not attended by real, solid comfort. Jolt and jar are ticketed to oblivion as soon asacaris fitted with a set of Truffault-Hart- ford Shock Absorbers and comfort is king. Then rough roads cause no fear for “every orser roads a boulevard.” i 7 HARTFORD SUSPENSION CO. STYLE that has the Factory, 165 Bay St., Jersey City, N. J. endorsement of those EDW. V. HARTFORD, Pres ini BRANCHES: whose opinions on dress New Yor are considered authoritative. COLLAR Send for booklet, - comicbookeo