Life, 1915-07-22 · page 11 of 44
Life — July 22, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece humorously chronicles a father's weekend, contrasting the title's promise of "rest" with constant domestic chaos. The detailed timeline shows Pa dealing with family demands—bringing children home, attending social events, managing seat disputes, eating late, attending dances, dealing with beach crowds, and enduring various interruptions. The accompanying sketches depict: a couple dancing (labeled "A Man After His Own Heart"), and "A Little Visit to a Throat Specialist"—showing goats, likely illustrating the noise and disorder Pa endures. The satire mocks early 20th-century middle-class family life, suggesting that weekend leisure for fathers meant not relaxation but exhausting social obligations, family management, and constant commotion. The joke: Pa's "restful" weekend is anything but.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“EDF 'E * Pa’s Restful Week-End With the Family ATURDAY, 2 P. M.: Gathers up bundles he has been specially ordered to bring down; dash for train; chair cars full; shares end seat in smoker with fat gen- tleman; temperature in car 102, 6:47 P. M.: Reaches beach; family welcome; drumhead court-martial for failure to bring package which wasn't sent to his office; acquitted as principal, but held guilty as accessory. 7:22», M.: Late for supper; gleans after early reapers. 7:45 P. M.: Ordered to attend Ma at the hop at the other hotel, and admire Bess and Nan dancing. 7:58-8:01 Pp. M.: Has seat among wailflowers. 8:01%4 Pp. M.: Surrenders seat to large lady of ag- gressive manner. 8:0113-8:17 Pp. M.: Stands around, when he isn't dodging dancers, 8:18 p. M.: On piazza; brisk sea breeze reminds him he's in gauze underwear; starts walking to keep warm. 12 midnight: Parade dismissed; disperse to barracks. Sunpay, 12:28 a, M.: Bed. Contour of mattress sug- gests long patronage by stout person. (Pa is thin.) Sleep. Awakened by enthusiastic sun-worshipers 1:22 A, M.? 4:40 A. Mer next door, 6:12 A. M.: Blessed oblivion. 8:02 A. M.: Roused by Ma and warned of the privations of the tardy at breakfast. 11a. M.: Dip in the briny; temperature 52. 11:20-11:50 A. M.: First, second and third aid treat- “A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART” wgillzets A LITTLE VISIT TO A THROAT SPECIALIST 1p. M.: Dinner; nine courses, two bites to a course. 2-6:19 Pp. M.: Motor trip with the Jepsons; double family Party, very. Car capacity, seven; passengers, ten. Pa has jump-seat and holds Willy Jepson, weight 67 pounds; Willy's heels impact frequently just above Pa’s shoetops. 8-11 Pp. M.: Social call from “those swell people we met last summer.” Open forum on “ Inquiries of the in- come tax.” 11:08 Pp. M.: Bed. 11:09 Pp, M.: Sleep of exhaustion. Monpay, 5:15 A. M.: Called to catch express for the city. Fine rain; open bus to station. 11:07 A. M.: Back in office, all rejuvenated for a hard week’s work by a holiday with the family. Well Trained Nope: That head bookkeeper of yours is certainly an expert at figures. Where did he get his mathe- matical training? Topp: He had an exceptional opportunity, He began as a caddy on my home links, and he kept my golf score for years.