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Life, 1915-12-09 · page 36 of 48

Life — December 9, 1915 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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Life — December 9, 1915 — page 36: Life, 1915-12-09

What you’re looking at

This page from *Life* magazine (circa 1915) contains several short humorous anecdotes and advertisements typical of the era's satirical humor. The jokes rely on irony and social commentary: One mock-celebrates a centenarian's birthday while highlighting her son-in-law's misery—he's profited from keeping her alive through insurance payments. Another mocks the tedium of public speaking. A third jokes about a woman's "lantern jaw" (protruding lower jaw)—a dated physical insult common in early 20th-century humor. The cartoons and quips satirize middle-class anxieties: insurance practices, marital disappointment, and social pretension (the haughty actress at a shabby hotel). The Donchester shirt advertisement uses humor to sell menswear. **Key context for modern readers:** These jokes assume audiences understood period-specific humor about physical appearance and family dynamics. The insurance joke's dark humor reflects contemporary anxieties about financial dependency and aging. The overall tone is genteel rather than biting—typical of *Life*'s target audience of educated, affluent readers.

📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“May I ask the cause of all this ex- citement?” asked the stranger in the little village. “Certainly,” replied the countryman. “We're celebrating the birthday of the oldest inhabitant, sir. She's a hundred and one to-day.” “Indeed! And may I ask who is that little man, with the dreadfully sad coun- tenance, walking by the old lady’s side?” “Oh, that’s the old, lady’s son-in-law, sir. He's been keeping up the payments on her life-insurance policy for the last thirty. years! "—Tit-Bits. “Wuat is the hardest part of your work as a lecturer?” asked the man designated as toastmaster. “As a rule,” replied Mr. Speekins, “the hardest part of my work is waking the audience up ‘after the man who in- troduces me has concluded his remarks.” —Washington Star. Lire is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and British Possessions, $5.00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.04 & year; to Canada, sz cents, Single cur. rent ‘copies, to cents. Rack numbers, alter three months from date of publication, 25_cents. Issues prior to 1910 out of print. The tert and illustrations in Lire are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain opply to Live, 114 Southampton Row, London, I. C. aDonchestero RROW vening Shirt The DONCHESTER shige has a bosom so made that ghee the weve bens, bends, the bosom follows the body. & dors not spring out of the waistcoat openingbreak 31:50, $200 and $3.00 Chet P Peabody G Co, Frc. Makers Careless of Her say, who was here to see you last night?” “Only Myrtle, father.” “Well, tell Myrtle that she left her pipe on the piano.” —University of Nebraska Awgwan. Disengaged Sarety: So Jack is engaged, is he? And is Fanny the bride-to-be? First: No, she is the tried-to-be. —University of Nebraska Awgwan. A stranpep but still haughty “leading lady” was obliged to put up at a dilapi- dated country hotel. She glanced frown- ingly about the office, reluctantly signed the register, and took the brass key from the proprietress. “Ts there water in my room?” she de- manded. “Why, there was,” replied the pro- prietress. “There was, but I had the roof fixed.”—Argonaut. BRILLIANT BELINDA TME BRILLIANCE OF BELINDA'S SMILE BEATS AUGHT 1 EVER SAW; HER PACE LIGHTS UP, YOU SEE, BECAUSE SME HAS A LANTERN Jaw “Do you believe in encouraging boys to fight?” “No more than in encouraging ducks to swim.”—Baltimore American. Lire is for sale by all newsdealers in Great Britain and may be obtained from book tellers in all the, principal cities in the world. | The foreign trade supplied fron Lire’s London Office, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, London, E. No contribution till be returned unless accompanied by ‘stamped and addressed ive does not hold itself responsible for the loss or nomreturn of wrse tions. Life’s Holiday Sugpestion Copr. Life Pub. Co ‘“ SUNSET"? This picture, reproduced by a special process in the glow- ing sunset tints of the original as published in Lire, but in larger size, to measure 23x 16% inches, will be sent on each yearly subscription entered before April 1, 1914 A subscription to Lire is the best possible gift, whether to yourself or some one clse—a copy of Lire every week, fifty-two copies a year, and this picture, all for the regular subscription price.* Subscription, $5.00 Canadian, $5.52 Foreign, $6.04 LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West 31s Street, New York On request we will send a Christmas card to announce a gift subscription. comicbooks.com