Life, 1913-12-04 · page 106 of 112
Life — December 4, 1913 — page 106: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and light humor content**, not political satire. **The Advertisements:** The dominant left column promotes luxury perfumes from Houbigant (via Park & Tilford), emphasizing exclusivity and high prices—targeting affluent readers. The right side advertises practical gift items: Simplex electric appliances (toasters, heating pads, lamp sockets), Lane Bryant maternity clothing, and Edwards fireproof steel garages. **The Humor Pieces:** Brief anecdotes and quotes occupy the center and bottom: - An essay "On Humour" defining humor as sympathetic perception of life's contradictions, distinct from mere wit - A "Solomon Grundy" joke about Mr. Grafton Grabb being "created on the Sabbath"—playing on the biblical paradox that God rested on the seventh day yet created man as His noblest work - A domestic anecdote about hardening husbands through prolonged "hot water" **Context:** This reflects early 20th-century Life magazine's blend of luxury consumer culture with gentle, whimsical humor aimed at educated middle-to-upper-class readers. No significant political content is present.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Gilt. (of RE THE Perfume Creations of Houbigant—supreme —elegant—their individual, ex- clusive fragrance and bouquet so difficult to describe! Selections Premizre Qualité QUELQUES FLEURS The memory of "Some Flowers"; essen- tially of aristocratic character, and, frankly, because of price, an exclusive perfume: richly presented in a box of Royal blue silk. . $6.75; trial size, 25e. A reigning favorite; the most inexpensive of supremely beautiful perfumes. 2 o7., $3.50; 1oz.,$2.00. Small trial bottle, 0c. alluri $4.7: Peau d’Espagne. Neither sweet nor heavy; a truly masculine perfume. 234 o., $3.00. Jasmin Floral. From the flowers of an old arden, silvered by moonlight. 114 oz., $7.00. Violette Houbigant. An odor in perfection cf the true violet of the woods, 213 oz., $7.00. La Rose France. The romance of the rose in ‘every breath of ita glorious perfume. 2oz., $7.50. Houbigant Booklet in Colors describing these and other supreme Houbigant creations, will be sent immediately to any address. PARK & TILFORD 529-549 W. 42d St., New York Sole Agents in United States and Canada Dt ep yp ty i ee Another “Solomon Grundy” “T am inclined to thii “that our iriend, Mr. was created on the Sabbath.’ r what reaso: “We are told that an honest man is the noblest work of the Creator, and al- so that on the seventh day the Creator rested."—Tit-Bits. aid a man, ton Grabb, A man who is not content with a little, is content with nothing. Epicurus. A OTTTTEILY) AA HCE P LIFE SRR “On Humour” By humour [ do not mean a taste for irresponsible merriment ; for, though hu mour is not a necessarily melancholy thing, in this imperfect world the hu- mourist. sighs as often as he smiles. What I mean by it is a keen perception of the rich incongruities of Vif d_ absurdities ts undue solemnity, its guileless pretentionsness. To be tre humour, it must not be at all a cynical thing— as soon as it becomes cynical it loses all its natural grace; it is an. essentially tender-hearted quality, apt to find excuse. ready to condone, eager to forgive. The professor of it can never be ridiculous, or heavy, or superior, Wit, of course, is a very small province of humour; wit is to humour what lightning is to the clec- trie fuid—a_ vivid, bright, crackling symptom of it in certain conditions ; but 1 man may be deeply and essentially humourous and never say a witty thing in his life. To be witty, one has to be fanciful, intellectual, deft, light-hearted ; and the humourist need be none of these things. From“ At Large”, by A. C. Benson. Tuere is a happy mean in everything. Tt is said that a shrewd old Tady heard her married daughter say: “If my hus- band doesn’t do such and such a thing, he'll find himself in hot water.” My child,” said the old lady, “ wl Kept in hot water a little while he may boil soft, but keep him there long and he hardens!” —Tit-Bits. The First Christmas a man The Infant brings joy and happiness for grown ups. Alittle box containing Sweater Coat, Cap, Bootees and Thumbless Mittens will keep him warm. Our Set In a spectal box, by hand of Spite Zephyr, with pink or bine border, Spccial price 1.95 Sor the Mother verything for the infant, Everythi See our book of Fashion Hints. Edition K. Lane Bryant 25 W. 38th St., N. Y. Ask for Expectations and Styles, Edition K. M., if interested in Maternity Dresses. EDWARDS FIRE- PROOF STEEL = For Automobiles and Motorcycles I OANOYAN TZ — O VY The Woman Across Your Breakfast Table —be she young or old—deserves your best thought for Christmas. ither of the following SIMPLEX Electric Lamp Socket SPECIALTIES will please her every day in the year, and save her time, trouble and expense: Simplex Toaster— Always toasts every slice of bread an even, appetizing golden brown. Every slice is flat, with no scorched edges. You make toast as you need it: al- ways hot, no waste. Costs a cent a meal Simplex Table Range—with one lamp socket connection you can cook an ertire meal for three people at an average cost of 3 cents Simplex Comfort Heating Pad—Made of eider-down, You can wrap it about an aching joint of lay it lightly over any pain area and maintain just the degree of heat required for as long a time as you wish Dishes, Pes SLED LOD, tors and to the ILLES FP Booklet “The Dainty Way to request. Get ft today fo formation as to where to ge Simplex Electric Heating Co. 93 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Mass. free ope SS - GARAGES| $30 and Up Easy to put up. Portable. All sizes. Postal brings | 42y latest illustrated catalog. | THE EDWARDS MFG. CO., 336-386 Exeleston Ave., Ciscinnati, 0. GOLF TERM “TWO UP, AND ONE To co” ———I =