Life, 1913-04-24 · page 30 of 48
Life — April 24, 1913 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several short humorous anecdotes and advertisements typical of early 1910s American humor. **The cartoons/jokes** mock everyday social situations: a man defending politeness as having "nothing solid" in it; a frugal rural customer haggling over calico prices; a child misspelling "hyena" as "highena"; and an ostrich forced by fashion to carry its tail on its head rather than naturally. **"Hobson's Choice"** presents a darkly comic scenario where a barber's twin brother has gone insane from poverty and desperation—nearly attacking a customer who refused a shampoo. The barber's bitter joke suggests their economic hardship was so severe that madness seemed almost logical. **The remaining jokes** play on religious and regional humor: a minister's trial sermon text from St. Paul inadvertently ends his job opportunity. **The advertisements** promote Fisk Tires and Indian Motorcycles, representing early automotive/motorcycle marketing emphasizing safety and mechanical advancement—products for a modernizing America. Overall, the page reflects pre-WWI American humor: class-conscious, occasionally dark, and celebrating the new consumer economy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
842 SAUT SCISSORS Quite True Bailey, Smith's scat-mate on the morn- ing train, had been speaking of Brown's good manners. “ He's polite enough,” Smith conceded, although somewhat reluctantly; “but '3 nothing solid in politeness. in an air-cushion,” retorted but it cases the jolts wonder- '—Youth’s Companion. The Original Shopper Aust Manpy (to the clerk at the gen- eral store): You all ain't got no fo'-cent calicer, is you,—or is you? Ef you is, is you all got some jes’ a speck cheapah? —Woman’s Home Companion Jounxy: Father, how do you spell ariter: H-i-g-h; why do you wish to know? Jouyxy: ‘Cause I'm writing a compo- sition on the highena.—Tit-Bits. HOMAVGARTR Leorano— “Now fashion,” the big ostrich said, “Is a thing that I very much dread. To be in the mode you'll observe, Mr. Toad, I must carry my tail on my head.” Baxuex: Poor Jim has been sent to a lunatic asylum. Victim (in chair): Who's Jim? “ Jim is my twin brother, sir. Jim has long been broodin’ ‘over the hard times, an’ I suppose he finally got crazy.” “Ts that so?” “Yes, he and me has worked side by side for years, and we were so alike we couldn't tell each other apart. We both brooded a great deal, too. No money in this business now. “ What's the reason?” “Prices too low. Unless a customer takes A shampoo it doesn’t pay to shave or hair-cut. Poor Jim, I caught him trying to cut a customer's throat because he refused a shampoo, so I had to have the poor fellow locked up. Makes me sad. Sometimes I feel sorry I didn’t let him slash all he wanted to. It might have saved his reason. Shampoo, sir?" “Yes."—Miltcaukee Journal. “ZT rnovcnt your minister was to have a call to Minneapolis?” “He did expect it, but he went up there to preach a trial sermon and took his text from St. Paul, so it’s all off.” --Chicago Record-Herald. Himukaneously fn th States, Great Britain, Canada and Beitith Additional portage to foreign coantries in the Postal Union, $1.04 Wack number, after three months from a year in advance. Single current copies. 10 cents Innues prior to 1910 out of prin No contribution teill he returned unless accompanied bs stamped a ressed emveiepe, LA does mar bald itself imam-retnem of wmisicited camtrioutions Lape: Is for eale by all New dealers in Great Brctain and may be obtained {rom booksellers ia all the priacipal cities of the world. The foreiga trade supplied from Larr's Loadon Ofice, Canon House, Greams Baildiets The text and Wiartrations in LIFE are eapsrighted. Fer Reprint Rights in Great Britain apple te Live, 14 Seuthampion Rare, Landon, WC. Brenirt metiscation viwald be sent Or subsersbers of ang ch HEAVY CAR TYPE FISK TIRES TOWN CAR TREAD ‘Do Not Skid’’ They Give SAFETY STRENGTH SERVICE Made for Any Rim PI DPI IAAD dd wi [email protected]' oor ps Write to Department S for Latest Fisk Booklet The Fisk Rubber Company Factory and Home Office Chicopee Falls, Mass. »? pV IES DISTRIBUTORS THE FISK RUBBER COMPANY F N.Y BRANCHES IN 41 CITIES The Twin’s _ the Thing! r ee Sndian Motocycle in prices over 1912 ‘As usual, a year ahead in improvements. The Twin Cylinder Indian of 7 horsepower is a marvel for power, speed and comfort. Takes you up any hillon any kind of road. From 4 to 50 miles an hour, there and back reliably and safely. NEWCRADLE SPRING FRAME assures the greatest possiblecom- fort. Like riding onair. The only one of its kindin existence. Foot boards now onthe Indian as well as pedals. They give a choice of leg positions. Eleven.new important features and twenty-nine additional refinements make the 1913 Indian a fine ezample of mechanical perfection. free demonstration from any of our 2,000dealers throughout the country. Wherever you ride you're always in Indian territory. Prices {4 HB: Single, $200 b+. o. b. factory Write for free 1913 literature describing all models and improvements. THE HENDEE MANUFACTURING COMPANY 921 State Street Springfield, Mass. BRANCH AND SERVICE STATIONS: Chicago Denver SanFrancisco Atlanta Torento _ London, Ens. comicbooks.com