Life, 1915-12-30 · page 36 of 41
Life — December 30, 1915 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This brief comic anecdote uses a deeply offensive racial stereotype. An elderly Black man accused of stealing chickens refuses a court-appointed lawyer, explaining (in exaggerated dialect) that he wants to "enjoy dem chickens" himself—implying he's guilty and prefers his stolen goods to legal defense. The "joke" relies on the racist assumption that Black people are inherently criminal and lack intelligence. The humor comes from presenting this as the man's own admission of criminality and foolishness. The title "Our Foolish Contemporaries" frames such attitudes as typical of the era. This reflects the casual, normalized racism common in early 20th-century American popular media, even in sophisticated publications like *Life* magazine. Modern readers should recognize this as propaganda reinforcing harmful stereotypes rather than humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUR_ N’ FOOLISH PO No Spoils to Share An old negro was charged with chick- en stealing, and the judge said: “Where's your lawyer, uncle?” “Ain't got none, jedge.” “But you ought to have one,” re- turned the Court. “I'll assign one to defend you.” “No, sah, no, sah, please don’t do dat,” begged the defendant. “Why not?” persisted the judge. “It won't cost you anything, Why don't you want a lawyer?” “Well, Ah'll tell yo’, old man, confidenti: enj'y dem chickens Home Journal, jedge,” said the “Ah wants ter maself."—Ladies’ are appetts. ts, in stamps h a dash of Abbott's tng and healt! mple of bitters by mi C. W. Abbott & Co. Baltimore, Md, The Very First Time You’re Towed In byagood Samaritan with a Basline Autow- line, you'll say: “That's what /’ve got to have " BASLINE AUTOWLINE POWERSTEEL AUTOWLOCK i ane ned tet Yelow Sand Wir Rene, with r tad a, cout peing-fck, viet ORS Be Pacer ana acai, Pee reduce your rate 10% if you use it. A Year Before The Father of His Country Took The Oath of Office Carstairs Rye was the country’s stand- ard. Each succeeding year has shown increased popularity. Used “ straight,” or in High Balls, Carstairs Rye— in the non-refillable bottle—has no superior, 4 se tie heed Trains EEORIDA ice to. cu ARL AVANNAH, THOMASVILLE, FL LORIDA oe CUBA Resorts Leaving New York from Pennyylteana R. R. Station 9:15 A. M., 2:12 (effective January 3) 3:34 and 9:30 P. M. Dining Car Service Fer instrated Kterstare and al information address ATLANTIC COAST LINE The Standard Railroad of the South NEW YORK, Broadway and 29th St. BOSTON, 244 Washington St BALTINORE, Light and German Streets WASHINGTON, 1406New York Av.,N.W. 4 et All Steel Elec- 4 Superior Roadway, Equipment and. Se TON Sua AUG Something Anyway “So you think a college education is a good thing for a boy?” Yes, I think it’s a pretty good thing. Fits him for something in life. If he can't catch on with a baseball team, he can often land a job as a professor.”"— Louisville Courier-Journal, ACARDE Makes The Pert Cocktall, Mtiekey “we Mlgtiball. "fey ves One of the questions in the San Fran- cisco Examiner's animal story contest. upon which children are asked to write, is: Why docs a cow need two stomachs? Sad experience evidently had much to do with the deductions of little Mark Schey, of Fruitvale, for he replied : “So when she has an ache in one of her stomachs, she can use the other one.” —Our Animals. So near you can almost hear the trade winds whisper in the tama- rinds and palms. But the treasure one seeks in the Bahamas today, is the gold of tropic sun- shine. And with a winter climate sur- passing Madeira; world famous surt bathing, fishing, tennis, and golf, Nassau is—but it would take pages to tell that. See fo in “Nassau Bohamas’’— o eotid oe shall eadly al even Feuet BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT AGENT 450 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY A Liverroot cotton broker, choosing a new office boy, rang up another firm to inquire about the character of one of the applicants. “Well,” said the head clerk, who an- swered the telephone, “he’s one of these “push and go’ boys.” “Good!” said the cotton broker, eagerly. “Smart and efficient, and all that, eh?” Not at all,” came the unexpected re- ply; “what I mean is that he only goes when you push him."—Tit-Bits. comicbooks.com