Life, 1916-12-07 · page 91 of 94
Life — December 7, 1916 — page 91: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and light humor**, with minimal political content. **Main Items:** 1. **"The Wireless Pup"** and other toy advertisements use now-offensive racial caricatures ("Ragtime Rastus," "Boxing Darkies") typical of early 1900s marketing. These reflect the era's casual racism in commercial products. 2. **"Frightful Friends"** is a humorous list satirizing annoying social behaviors—gate-crashing guests, freeloaders, and bad-timed phone calls. It's gentle domestic comedy with no political edge. 3. **"Keeping Busy"** discusses idleness philosophically, suggesting busy work prevents mischief—a mild commentary on human nature. 4. **The "Horatious" quip** is a clever joke: even a Roman hero rushing to defend a bridge remembers to pre-order the next week's *Life* magazine—self-promotional humor. The page is dominated by advertisements for Wells Fargo Travelers Checks and Brunswick billiard tables. The humor is topical to the era but not politically charged—mainly domestic satire and consumerist messaging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-CHRISTMAS LIFE- | THE WIRELESS PUP A Bull Dog that comes out of kennel when you call him A Wonderful Scientific Novelty Operated at a Distance by Sound Wav ee Made of Hard Wood in Mission Finish (kennel 7 inches high) and used as— ‘Aa Attraction for Dens, Private Offices, Clubs, Recep- tion Halls— A Sensation for Dinner and House Parties. “Scientific American” calls this the most unique toy of re- cent years, Heot carried at your regular Toy of Gilt Shop send $5.00 sed we will ship prepaid and sale delivery guaranteed any- where in U.S. RAGTIME RASTUS--An Automatic Dancing Doll for Falk- ing Machines. Rastus does one hundred steps to the mosic—clogs, shufles, jigs, etc. Most amusing novelty you ever saw. THE BOXING DARKIES—Put on a good lively tune and these little figures box away with wonderful ac curacy and speed. Most realistic, create lots of fun. Great Christmas Gifts. Prompt shipment. These tops fit all talking machines (except Edison). Put on or taken off in five seconds. At Talking, Machine or Toy Dealers or from us prepaid. Ras. tus (Item 100A), $1.00. Boxers (100 B $1.25. Com. bination Rastu: and Boxers (100 AB), $1.50. TE —We make the above toys to operate by hand (not on talking Rastus Boxers Combination Rastus and Boxers (200AB), $1. NATIONAL TOY CO. 283 Congress St., Boston, Keeping Busy EEPING busy is the root of all evil. Man is by nature so consti- tuted that he must keep busy. This would be a fine thing if he could al- ways find things worth doing, but un- fortunately most of us lack the intel- ligence and the imagination necessary to fill our active hours with useful en- Jeavor, and accordingly in our weak- ss we fall back on activities which € not only useless, but are often posi- tively injurious The saying, “Satan finds some mis- chief still for idle hands to do,” is stated just right. Hands (or feet, you prefer dancing) must have some- thing to do. Neither Satan nor any- hody else has the power to keep us in perfect repose. E.0.4 R°s 2: Does anything make your husband unhappier than having your relatives for a visit? Luy: Yes, having his own. Frightful Friends “Fat friend who welcomes you by creeping up behind and knocking off your hat. The friend who invites you to the theatre and buys only one ticket. The friend who introduces you to Miss Wallflower and then disappears. The friend you ask to dinner on Sa urday and who stays over the week end. The friend who drops in to talk over “old times” and incidentally borrows all your spare cash. The friend who insists that you visit him and continually quarrels with his wife. The friend who greets you when you're with the “only girl” and re- fuses to be “ shaken. The friend who gives a card party for which you pay entirely. The friend who telephones you in the middle of the night that he’s been arrested. T brave Horatius had just buckled on his armor, and was stepping forth to defend the bridge. Suddenly he stopped. Summoning Mrs, Horatius, he told her not to fail to go to the newsdealer’s and order in advance his copy of next week's Lire. vy COMFORT RAVELERS checks are safe, convenient, econom- ical. But Wells Fargo Checks mean service, too. The traveler who carries them secures title to the assistance of the wide-spread Wells Fargo organization. They are sold in denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100 or $200, at a pre- mium of one-half cent on each dollar, with a minimum charge of ten cents. Wells Fargo Express Service is im- mediate, personal and safe. Use it for your packages. WELLS FARGO Gravelers Checks Ask the nearest agent or send to.51 Broadway, New York, for booklet, “Travel Funds." The Christmas Gift Good All Year Round Parents, boys and girls and guests are all fascinated by the royal games of Carom and Pocket Billiards when played on Brunswick Tables in cozy home surroundings. Some styles can be set up quickly anywhere and taken down easily after play Made of beautitul smoothness—sizes to fit all homes. ak and mahogany richly inlaid—speed, accuracy’ and ever-level SUPERB BRUNSWICK Home Billiard Tables $30 Up—Pay 10c a Day ,_A small first payment puts any Brunswick that you select in your home for Christmas. You can play while you pay the balance—terms as low as ten cents a day. Balls, Cues, Etc., FREE ith every Brunswick Table we give a complete hish- ick Playi k, Markers, Balls. 33 games, ete. Getour 30-day home and sce these tabl handsome color-book—"‘Billiards—The Home Magnet.” eve bMvtrtet ‘deuvery Thia Brings Billiard Book FREE The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. Dept. 42C, 623-633 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. Send FREE, postpaid, your color-book, “BILLIARDS—The Home Magnet” and tell about your home trial offer. Address comicbooks.com