Life, 1914-07-16 · page 32 of 40
Life — July 16, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical anecdotes mocking contemporary figures and situations: **"Hard Labor"** ridicules actor Wilson Barrett, who invited his workers to see his theatrical performance as a treat, only to have them charge four hours' overtime pay for attending—turning his generosity into a financial loss. **"Suffering by Proxy"** jokes about Senator Hughes of New Jersey pestering Secretary Lane about a constituent's complaint. Lane's solution—appointing Hughes himself to hear the complaint—is absurdist humor mocking bureaucratic buck-passing. **"Did He Know?"** presents a humorous anecdote where a woman cashing a check at a bank, unfamiliar to the cashier, delivers a witty monologue about being his neighbor—the "red-headed old virago" whose boys steal his flowers. The page also includes period advertisements for horseshoe nails, safety tank equipment, and Kelly-Springfield tires, plus a caption about dogs chasing rabbits. The humor relies on everyday social awkwardness and bureaucratic absurdity recognizable to early 20th-century readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
116 EEE OUR_ FO © hos aire ae ARIES Wilson Barrett used to tell an amus- ing story against himself. At a time when he had a lot of workmen redecorat- ing his private residence, thinking to give them a treat, he asked if, after work one evening, they would like to have scats to go and see him play in “The Lights 0’ London” at the Princess Theatre. They said they didn’t mind if they did, and being complimentary tickets, all went on a Saturday night to see their employer's performance. At the end of the week Barreit’s eye caught sight of this item against each workman’s name on the pay-sheet: “Saturday night. Four hours’ overtime at Princess Theatre, eight shillings.” —Tit-Bits. “Cap rewell” == EO 2 Used ap hout the world by care- ful farriers. More Seed io this country than all other brands combined. best nail in the world at a fair price—not the chee st regardless. of quality. Does your shoer use “ The Capewell”? “Safety First” “A LEAKY TANK-— A CARELESS MATCH ” WE all know the result—a disastrous fire or explosion, a ruined automo- bile, possibly lost or maimed human life. Equip your car with a “JASCO. TANK” the drawn steel, seamless, leakless, tinned and tested gasoline tank that positively protects. Thousands in use—and every one means a possible life saved Styles and sizes to Gt all cara. At your dealer's or direct. Booklet and detailed information on request. JANNEY, STEINMETZ & COMPANY, Main Office : Philadelphia. New York Office : Hudson Term. Bldg. Suffering by Proxy Senator Hughes, of New Jersey, was worried to distraction by the importuni- ties’ of a person who: had a grievance against the Interior Department. The Senator called up Secretary Lane, who had been worried by the same person. “Will you listen to his story?" asked Hughes over the telephone. “T will not,” Lane replied. “Well, then,” urged Hughes desper- ately, “will you appoint some one to hear the story?” “Yes,” answered Secretary Lane. “I sppoint you,” and he rang off. —Saturday Evening Post. Did He Know? “But I don’t know you, madam,” the bank cashier said to the woman who had presented a check. The woman, however, instead of say- ing haughtily, “I do not wish your acquaintance, sir,” merely replied, with an engaging smile: “Oh, yes you do, I think. I'm the ‘red-headed old virago’ next door to you, whose scoundrelly little boys are al- ways reaching through the fence and picking your flowers. When you started for town this morning your wife said: ‘Now, Henry, if you want a dinner fit to eat this evening you'll have to leave me a little money. I can't keep this house on plain water and sixpence a day.'"—Philadelphia Public Ledger, Comfort Without Extravagance Hotel Woodstock, New York Sitrcus: What's the matter, old man? You look unhappy. Cyxicus: I am. I'm almost as un- happy as a woman with a secret that nobody wants to know.—Club Fellow. The fact that he couldn’t swim wasn’t im- portant to the passenger until he fell overboard. The fact that your Kelly- Springfield Gray Tube floats when you put it in water isn’t important to you until you realize that this means that real rubber has gone into that hand-made tube. Kelly-Springfield ire Company Cor. Broadway and 57th Street, N. Y. Branch offices in New York, Chicago, Phi! adel. shia, Boston, St. Louis, Detroit, Cincinnati, Prarcisco,, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattic, Atlanta, Akron, O. The Hearn Tire & Rubber Co., Columbus, 0. Bering..Tire & Rubber Co., Houston, Texas Boss Rubber Co., Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo The Olmsted Co., Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. South'n Hdwe. & Woodstock Co., Ltd, New Orleans, La. |. Barth, Rochester, N. Y. Seifert & Fine, Newark, Atkinson Tire & Supply Co., Central Rubber & Supply Co., Franke & Co, Charlenion: 3 & S. Aut Limited, Toronto, Can. Road Rubber oor New Haven, Cont. Barnard & Michael, Buffalo, N. Y. jacksonville, Fla. ndianapolis, Ind. Pup: 1 ON’T SEE WHY THEY GET SO EXCITED OVER CHASING A LITTLE THING LIKE THAT