Life, 1915-05-13 · page 38 of 52
Life — May 13, 1915 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"A Question of Degree"** presents a humorous dialogue about learning to dance—the joke being that dancing poorly while moving is no more foolish than sitting still looking foolish, so one might as well dance. **The violent quarrel anecdote** is a setup-and-punchline about two men escalating insults until the smaller man simply hangs up a telephone—deflating the confrontation through an absurdist twist. **"A Morbid Desire"** uses dialect humor (common but now offensive) featuring elderly Black workers at a resort wishing harm on each other in exaggerated terms—the satire targeting the characters' dark wishes rather than race itself, though the presentation is deeply dated. The page is primarily **advertising and filler content**—Egyptian Deities cigarettes, Hires Champanale beverage, and a Joseph Conrad book promotion dominate the layout. These reflect commercial Life's dual nature as both satirical publication and advertising vehicle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
870 OLISH CONTEMPOR ARIES >" A Question of Degree “What is your reason for wanting to learn to dance?” “Well, it looks foolisher to sit still and look foolish than it does to get on your feet and look foolish.” —Washingtn Star. thet 14 made tasty and delightfal by ustne Abbott's le we Sets. in stamps, C. “You're a liar!” drawled the little man, “Wi roared the big man, clench- ing a huge fist, “Do you dare to call me that, you poor, puny, pitiable little puppy?” I do,” came back the defiant reply. If you speak another word, you great lump of podgy pork, T'll soon cut you short!” “Cut me short, you cheese-mite!” shouted the enraged giant. “Yes, and here goes!" snapped the thin-armed dwarf, sharply; and, quick as lightning, before the burly one could utter a word, he rang off and hung up the receiver.—Tit-Bits. eae, | —" EGYPTIAN DEITIES | “The Utmost in les Plain End or Cok Tip ot a ing PREFER Deter any other cigarette ') The New Tdeai in Beverages Pressed from world-famous white Niagara grapes, sun- pened and luscious, Blended with an infusion of fresh, tich ginger root, purest cane sugar and ape fruit, A new flavor! A new de- fcoumess! An unfermented champegne with sparkle and exhilaration. HIRES CHAMPANALE “Unfermented” Sescuichly borne 6 farcttindncer and banquet bev Ay all means try a bottle! Site by lading grocers We Bul send sample Jor Te, Gnd your grocers mame, A Morbid Desire Two octogenarian darkies at White Sulphur Springs, having been employed by one hotel management since the Civil War, are now retained as pensioners, though they occasionally do light and pottering jobs about the place. One day not long ago they were lan- guidly raking leaves on the lawn. As a lady passed she heard them quarreling and stopped to listen. “ Nigger,” stated the older of the pair, “does you know whut I wish’t? I wish't dat hotel yonder had a thousan’ rooms in it and you wuz laid out daid in ev'ry room!"—Saturday Evening Post, Appiicaxt: I'd like a job as a re- porter. Manacixc Eprtor: Nothing doing; you start as editorial writer and work your way up. —Philadelphia Public Ledger, VICTORY’ The Book That Will Win America for 7 JOSEPH CONRAD The Story of a Woman’s Love that is superb in its Faith and Triumph Just Out. Net, $1.35 DOUBLEDAY, FASE & CO. “TRYING A NEW TACK" comicbooks.com