Life, 1917-04-05 · page 56 of 70
Life — April 5, 1917 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical humor pieces typical of early-20th-century American wit: **"Hands Off!"** mocks a woman seeking divorce counsel who scolds her lawyer for criticizing her husband—she wants legal advice, not moral judgment. The joke satirizes the absurdity of her indignation. **"Leave Well Alone"** presents a military exchange where a junior officer admits he hasn't replaced the old guard because it's working well. It's gentle mockery of bureaucratic inefficiency and reluctance to change. **"A Good Match"** uses racial caricature and dialect to joke about a Black man asking for "flesh-colored" letter-paper borders—the clerk's misunderstanding creates the humor. This reflects the period's casual, offensive racial stereotyping. **"Good Match"** and the train anecdote are brief comedic vignettes about misunderstandings. The page is predominantly **advertising**—for cigarettes, cleaning products, rye whiskey, and instructional books. These ads, interspersed with humor, reflect *Life*'s revenue model from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
An attorney was consulted by a woman desirous of bringing action against her husband for a divorce. She related a harrowing tale of the ill-treatment she had received at his hands. So impres- sive was her recital that the lawyer, for a moment, was startled out of his usual professional composure. “ From what you say this man must be a brute of the worst type!” he exclaimed. The applicant for divorce arose and, with severe dignity, announced: “Sir, I shall consult another lawyer. I came here to get advice as to a divorce, not to hear my husband abused ! "Argonaut, Leave Well Alone Cartain: Have you changed the guard yet? Tue Newenust Justor old guard was doing the job so well, I thought I'd let ‘em s No, sir; on, sir.” ney Bulletin. Pinch, use ALLEN'’S FOOT-EASE., Tiexe was a timid knock at the doo: “Tf you please, kind lady,” a “T've lost my Well, it ain't here,” retorted the lady of the house, and slammed the door. York Times. (ARBQNA Cleaning Fluid Better than ine, Naphiha or Gasoline for all Cleaning purposes Ge Se soe _ an Drugtists A Good Match A portly colored man entered the drus- store and looked around uncertainly “Young man,” he said to the clerk confidentially, “has you got any letter- paper and envelopes with flesh-colored borders?” “Was it for, sir?” “You's struck it di remembered the name. it, if you please. sah. nourning-paper you wished inquired the clever clerk. ackly! But I dis Gib me a box of erybody’s. ghtful by ust bitters by mail, 23 cts. in sta Woaay Passesone: What are we stopping here for? Trainsax: We track-walker who found a broken rail Woman Passexcer: How did it get broke—who broke it? —Erie Railroad Magazine. were flagged by a Abbott's cow, | | | pur ART We —_ EGYPTIAN SS DEITIES | “The Utmost in Cigarettes lain End or Cork and education inc rally PREFER. Deities any othercigonte o5* Anargyres Makers of the Hig SEXOLOGY by William H. Walling, A.M., Md imparts in a clear, wholesome way, in one volume: 1 Young Man Sbooll flare ‘Shoot Have Koowledge a Young Woman Sheold fave Koowledge a Young Wie Sbvold Have Kowwledse a Mother Ki Sal las te eowledge Mother Sool nar 1s er Dax Medal Kaneledge a Wie Shall ve inion’ a ie Coetens te lor “Other People's Op! Tal ITAN PUB. CO., 797 PERRY BLDG. PHILA, fi tarry { My honor need By | peacea Favorite PROTECTIVE COLORING BETTER NOT WASH YouR FAC MY. REMEMBER YOU GOT The Standard Rye of America Established 1788 comichooks.colm