Life, 1915-01-07 · page 36 of 44
Life — January 7, 1915 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor typical of early 20th-century American magazines. The main content includes: **"Simplified Spelling"** jokes mocking linguistic reformers who wanted to simplify English spelling—a genuine movement of that era. The dentist joke suggests removing letters to turn "Bakeshop" into "Akeshop," satirizing this impulse as absurd. **"Amid Hostilities"** appears to reference World War I. The poem satirizes international tension by depicting a barbershop where workers from different nations (Kaiser-supporting German, Czar-supporting Russian, Greek, and Italian) serve a patron amid heated political debate—comedic commentary on how global conflict permeated even everyday life. The advertisements (Tareyton cigarettes, P&O steamships, Wilson whiskey) represent typical magazine revenue sources of the period. The page primarily uses wordplay and situational humor rather than visual political cartooning, reflecting Life's mid-period style focused on witty anecdotes and jokes alongside advertising.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Simplified Spelling The dentist had just moved into a place previously occupied by a baker, when a friend called. “Pardon me a moment,” said the dentist, “while I dig off those enamel letters of ‘Bakeshop’ from the front window,” “Why not merely dig off the ‘B’ and let it go at that?” suggested the friend. —Boston Transcript. ful of Abbott's, Bitters with your Grape Fru makia'an Eicel appetizing tonic. Sample of bitters Pal Bets, in stampa C. W. Abbott & Co., Baltimore, Md. A jsvupce in remanding a criminal called him a scoundrel, The prisoner replied, “ Sir, I am not as big a scoundrel as your honor "—here the culprit stopped, but finally added— takes me to be.” “ Put your words closer together,” said the judge—Argonaut. THE UTMOST IN CIGARETTES “Amid Hostilities The barber to the right of me was hoch- ing for the Kaiser, The barber to the left of me was hack- ing for the Czar. A gentleman from Greece was shearing off my fleece, While very near a swart Italian stropped his scimitar. And when presently discussion, polyglot and fervid, NEW ZEALAND, Round World Trips and Winter Tours in INDIA. PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL S. N. CO. Full information from CUNARD LINE, 21-24 State Street, N. Y. AA AAT Tareyton date zy ton On political conditions burst about my chair, I left the place unshaven—I hope I'm TRICKS. We will send you two card tricks, very perplexing to onlookers, vet savoue can do not a craven, But I sort of like to wear a head beneath my hair! —New | vere Herbert Tareyton L London fon Smoking ‘Mixture 4s PoundS0O ple upon request. Falk Tobacco Co, s6West aS ‘St. NewYork. er eee NE The mainstay of our business is the man who guards his drink no less carefully than his food. That’s why we put WILSON in the Non- Refillable Bottle—so that the wise man always gets the same deliciously mild, mellow Whiskey anywhere he goes—Wilson—Real Wilson— That’s All! MARY, MY LOVE, I THINK WE CAN BOTH DO OUR SHOPPING HERE comichooks, FREE CLUB RECIPES—Free booklet of famous club recipes for mixed drinks, Address Wilson, 13 East 31st Street, N.Y. That's All!