Life, 1913-10-09 · page 32 of 44
Life — October 9, 1913 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine combines satirical humor with period advertising. The upper section features "Our Foolish Contemporaries"—a recurring column presenting humorous submitted anecdotes about everyday absurdities. The jokes target middle-class anxieties of the era: a homeowner torn between competing financial needs (house paint, children's clothes, car tires), a parent confusing "apiary" (bee farm) with "monkeys," and a child who stopped praying because he slept in a folding bed (implying prayer only worked in a proper bed—absurd logic). The advertisements reflect early 20th-century consumer goods and social concerns: foot powder, brandy, a sex education book marketed as necessary for "happy marriage," and spring water. The satirical tone critiques both the submitted humor (poking fun at ordinary people's silly logic) and period consumer culture itself. The "Vera Sweet" chocolates advertisement uses flirtation to sell products—common for the era but reflecting attitudes toward women modern readers would find dated. The page is primarily advertisement-driven, with humor serving commercial purposes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OLISH ARIES OUR, CONTEMFO The Paramount ae My house needs paint, clothes, My boy needs shoes Among their needs, you may suppose, It’s hard to choose. . my wife needs No man could be in a worse strait Between two fires I guess they will have to wait My car needs tires! —Courier-Journal. Comfort Without Extravagance Motel Woodstock, New York. Mornex (to park policeman): My little boy wants to sce the monkeys. Can you direct us to the apiary?” —Boston Transcript. > _ My name is ow i pac laeor and my home is the most at- tractive place you ever saw. Of coune, it isn’t for a young lady to boat meena tay fore the, deintie = most ciously flavored. suprising box of ‘chocolates vs they ever knew. Lam eure you will ike me, find me in good company at your pear H you want to please somebody very much, put me in your pocket and take me to Then your reception will be a WONDERFUL one | If you can't locate Vera Sweet th yout neighborhood send Plain oi On the Safe Side “Why, Tommy,” exclaimed the Sun- day-school teacher, “don't you say your prayers every night before you go to bed?” “Not any more,” replied Tommy; “1 uster when I slept in a foldin’ bed, though."—Boston Globe. Sticed Oranges with ras of Abbott's Bitteraare appetizing d healthful Sample of bitters by mail, 2 cts. in stamps. Abbott & Co., Baltimore, Md. Op Aunt (despondently): Well, shan’t be a nuisance to you much longer. Neruew (reassuringly): Don't talk like that, aunt; you know you will. —Boston Transcript. In a Pinch, use ALLEN’S FOOT-EASE “I stiovipy’r mind, meself, if they closed the ,*pubs’ a couple o' hours sooner. Wot I sez is, if a man full by ‘alf-past ten, ‘e ain't trying. —Punch, GREAT BEAR SPRING WATEK SO cents per case of 6 glass stoppered bottles One Star Two Star Three Star ESTABLISHED: 1715 V. O. Vv. S. 0. Cork Tip A Happy Marriage Depends large! knowledge of the whole truth about self and sex and their relation to life and health. This know! edge does not come in- telligently of itself, nor correctly from ordinary, every-day sources, SEXOLOGY (Illustrated) by William H. Walling, A.M., M.D., imparts in a clear wholesome way in one volume Knowledge a Knowles Knowleds fave Keon er Should Somiedge 8 F ould Lmppare to Fie cane Geen ate fo Should Hav & Mother Should Ininart to Her Daught Hegriytee.sanesites ine sataa has Seer Dewar All in one volume. IMlustrated, $2, postpald. Weate for "Other People's Opinions” and Table ef Contents Puritan Pub. Co. 776 Perry Bldg., Phila. Pa. Vv. S. O. P. E. S. O. P. “ Guaranteed over 25 years old “40 « EXTRA “ 50 Bottled in Cognac and guaranteed distilled from wine grown in the Charente G. S. NICHOLAS & CO., Sole Agents, 41 and 43 Beaver St., New York comicbooks.com