Life, 1914-07-23 · page 32 of 40
Life — July 23, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This joke satirizes Irish immigrant laborers and their reputation for resourcefulness and lateral thinking. A colonel seeks a servant capable of multiple tasks (cooking, driving, cleaning, etc.). An Irish applicant, Murphy, asks an unexpected question: what kind of soil the estate has. When pressed, he explains he'd make bricks in his spare time—completely missing the point of the job posting. The humor targets Irish stereotypes: their perceived simplicity, tendency to misunderstand practical matters, and their opportunistic hustle (always looking for a side business). Murphy's non-sequitur response was likely funny to contemporary readers who enjoyed ethnic humor portraying working-class Irish as somewhat dim but cleverly resourceful in absurd ways.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Original Handy Man A colonel wanted a man-servant, so he inserted an advertisement in the local weekly. One of the applicants who an- swered was an Irishman. “What I want,” explained the colonel, is a useful man—one who can cook, drive a motor, look after a pair of horses, clean boots and windows, feed poultry, milk the cow, and do a little painting and paperhanging.” “Excuse me, sor,” said Murphy, what kind of soil have ye here?” “ Soil?" snapped the colonel. “ What's that got to do with it?” “Well, I thought if it was clay I might make bricks in me spare time.” —Everybody's. Wine Jelly when flavored with Abbott's Bitters ts made more delightful and healthful, | Sample of bitters by mail, 5 ets. In stamp: Abbott & Co., Baltimore, Mrs. Adair Keep in Touch with Mrs. Adatr’s Salon This Summer If you cannot occasionally gullet the Salon. write Men Aa fen y eecasicnal comes ran ward off the many azing, unbecoming effects of summer climate Ganesh Forehead Str 4 yy Don't Let Your Skin Darken » Sunbure not gly temporarily. fans ‘the akin, in, but causes it to ong summer fanning” GANTSH FRECKLE CREAM ‘Thatne tran et dreplog the thin GANESH LILY SULPHUR LOTION [fa tn. 61.00 "ill be feud tmurtConing, retreniiog. and whitening. In pink. creams acd waite; When Motoring, Golfing, Ele. the resisting power of the skin is taxed to the utmost. A On eee Or tke Ghanian SlusLa TT TONE Ok Tee eu Isrts and strengthens the ahlo, Reepe tbe pores dae aad the shin frce feces Sipamneen If One Tene of Weight, or Loses Too Much If in New York, Now or in the Future Do not. ee to stop in at Mra. Adair’s Salon. at 557 Fifth Avenue, and. receive 'e GANESH STRAPPING, MUSCLE TREATNEST. tn. yualled for bascty tretiog the connplesica ky eevieing the, mumries acd | Tite Unser the aiaw Single Treatment, #220, ‘Courm'ol ohn #12 Mail Orders Filled on Receipt of Cheque Lecture Booklet Free S57 FifthAve, New York "git ka? oot tier ba ew. DEITIES. Plain or Cork Wasn't Malicious A Mobile manufacturer tells of a darky who came to him one day with a request to be excused from work the next day, explaining that his wife had died and that he must attend the funeral. This request, seeming reasonable, was granted; but after a lapse of some weeks the darky again asked a day off. “All sight, Frank,” said the “What's it for this time?” This time I gets married.” “So soon? Why, it's only been a few weeks since you buried your wife.” “Sure!” said Frank, “but I don't hold spite long.”—Harper’s Magazine. boss. GREAT BEAR SPRING WATER 5O cents per case of 6 glass stoppered bottles Not the Same I'm going downtown this Shopping, my dear? Mrs. Exe: No, I haven't’ time for that; just to buy some things that I need.—Boston Transcript. ROUND THE WORLD Pleasure travel de dure reaches its fullest development in our Tours Around the World. The 43d annual series offers ax rangements perfected by long experience, and the odvas- tages of our world-chain of 160 offices with trained residest | staff everywhere. Leisurely travel in small groups tured leadership. ‘Westbound Tours leave Sept. 29, Oct. 20. Eastbound Oct 17, Nov. S, Dec. 9, Jan.9. A handsome illustrated booklet “Over the Seven Seas” tells the whole story. Sent on request. Send for Programme THOS. COOK & SON} NEW YORK: 245 Broadway, 264 Fifth Are] PHILADELPHIA CMICAGO _SAN FRANCISCO OF BRAINS 1GARS “MADE AT KEY WEST WANTED—AN. IDEA! Who ean thie! FoR MEN some simple this Protect your idea Needed Inventions Your Money. anya Dept 128, Wasblagton 4 may bring y ra The Chauffeur Says Comin’ back from the Princeton game, we met three cars in the ditch. And say, my Autowline yanked ‘em out like they was little red wagons. Me for Autowline! Basline Autowline “The Little Steel Rope With The Big Pull” is built for road emergencies. About 25 feet of flexible ¥-Inch Yellow Strand wire rope. Pulls @ 4000-1b. c: ° jenuins supply dealers. $3.95, ea FREE: Mlustrated Autowline Circular. “get home insurance.” of Rocky Mountains. Coils up flat under a cushion, up a 203 grade with- At all Waite for it. Broderick & Bascom Rope Co. Tork Offien, 16 Warren Street Mannfacturers of famous How Strand Wi Rope Tasteful Mourning “Smith is the most romantic and sen- timental man I have ever heard of.” How so?” “His wife was a blonde, and a week after she died he married a brunette.” —Pennsylvania Punch Box. | Comfort Without Extravagance, Hotel Woodstock, New ¥q Litres Broruer: Bet he'd kiss you it I weren't here! Sister: You insolent boy! Go away this very minute.—Penn State Froth.