Life, 1916-01-27 · page 36 of 44
Life — January 27, 1916 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes satirical humor columns with period advertisements, typical of Life magazine's format. **The Humor:** - "Wasn't Calling Her Dear": A shopkeeper's innocent product name ("Belvedere") offends a customer who misunderstands it as a personal slight. - "His Number": A student confuses Columbus's discovery date (1492) with a telephone number—likely poking fun at the growing prevalence of telephones in everyday life. - "Footing the Bill": Dark humor about medical costs; a man recovers from surgery but must sell his car to pay the surgeon. **The Advertisements:** The page features multiple ads for products now historically notable: Egyptian Deities cigarettes, Morley Phone (an ear device), El-Bart Dry Gin (sold during Prohibition, suggesting grey-market distribution), and Hacardi cocktail mixers. These ads reflect pre-Prohibition or immediate post-Prohibition America's casual alcohol marketing. The small domestic humor strips ("Waist Not, Want Not") were Life's signature satire format, mocking middle-class social awkwardness and consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
172 CONTEMPORARIES | earns nee DEITIES | let | Wasn't Calling Her Di } piv berm Diegaa oe bapag a era a secon scl | tain fair young woman. inspected the oo stock of a local shopkeeper. 5 “Is this a good one?” she asked, as she picked up a dainty little machine “What is it called?” “That's the Belvedere,” said the hand- some young shopman politely. There was a chilly silence. Then the young woman drew herself coldly erect fixed him with an icy stare, and asked nd can you recommend the —Kansas City Star, {AVbotts Bitters are appetiz~ Ran Ditters by mall, 23 ets. Infetamps, CAT Abbott & ta, Halthinare, Mle His Number Teacnre: I'm surprised at you, Sam my Wicks, that you cannot tell me when Christopher Columbus discovered Amer- ica! What does the chapter heading of the week's lesson read? “L can bear you {he MORLEY PHONE ** ‘ibis invisible, weight: Sauay: “Columbus. pb erie, © Tracuve: — Well tthe i ental “wes not ruber. Can be enough? Did you never see it before ond rE et ae Samy: Yes'm, yesim; but [always thought it was his telephone number DEAF —Harper's Magozine. Js to the ears what glases are to “tere. “Write Foe Free Boklet owntry. It = GREAT MEAK SPRING WaTER sires cowe pe sine SO cents the case of 6 g! stoppered bottles why the MORLEY PHONE: affords relief. Over a quarter of a million sold, THE MORLEY CO., Dept. ‘770, Perry Bids. te + Phila. A Good Drink Every Time! Cocktail, Rickey, or any other drink made with EL-BART Dry Gin is bound to be good. Triple distilled, fragrant, crystal clear, it's impossible to make better Gin than EL-BART. Order EL-BART the next time you take a drink, or make An EL-BART Cocktail at Home Send for this unique EL-BART glass shaker. Recipes right on the glass will teach you to make the best cocktail you ever tasted. »or | This shaker will be sent postpaid, or delivered upon application, for one label from an EL-BART Dry Gin Bottle and 25c. in cash or stamps. (Be sure to send an EL-BART DRY GIN Label.) Address: EL-BART, 305 Fifth Avenue, New York Name. Address State and County _ Footing the Bill Mr. Newman had just recovered from an operation and was talking to a friend. “The surgeon,” he remarked. “said he'd have me on my feet again in three weeks.” “Well, he did it, didn't he? asked the friend. “ He did, indeed,” responded Mr. New- man. “Thad to sell my motor-car to pay his bill." —Christian Register. RACARDE Makes The Perfect Cocktail, Rickey or Highball, ‘Try Itt Lapy: (to prospective charzoman) What do you charge per day? Citarwomax : Well, mum, two-and-six if T eats meself and two shillings if you eats me—Punch, “ WAIST NOT, WANT NOT” comicbooks.com