Life, 1917-08-09 · page 34 of 42
Life — August 9, 1917 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short humorous pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"A Boomerang"** satirizes parental discipline: a father scolds his son "Willie" by comparing him unfavorably to young Woodrow Wilson. The boy's clever retort—that Wilson became President—undermines the father's authority and suggests Wilson's early promise didn't guarantee adult success. **"City Nephews"** appears to be a visual gag (the image shows what appears to be a rural scene) about a cow, though context is unclear. **"Lack of Faith Proven"** uses dialect humor (common then, now offensive) to mock African American religiosity: a preacher criticizes his congregation's lack of faith during a drought—yet none brought umbrellas, suggesting they didn't actually believe rain would come. **"Country Lady"** is a brief exchange about a lost medicine package. The page also advertises **Perrier water** and **Life's new binder** for collecting issues—a subscription service innovation. The humor relies on wordplay, situational irony, and period-specific cultural references readers would recognize.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Songs They Really Sing Come on, dirty soldiers, Wash your bloomin’ clothes. Where you get the soap from joodness only knows, Clean and brush your tunics, Give your socks a rub. While you're looking for the soap Some blighter’s pinched your tub. —Pearson's Magazine. A Boomerang “Willie, your master’s report of your work is very bad. Do you know that when Woodrow Wilson was your age he was head of the school?” “Yes, pa; and when he was your age he was President of the United States.” -B. “Joux, what is a proletariat?” y dear, I am astonished you should ask me such a question, and be- fore the children, too!” timore American, countries in es, To cents, “the Postal Unior Back mumbe City Neph Gractous! AWE you EMPricD THAT COW ALREADY, UNCLE? IT LOOKED AS IF IT WOULD HOLD A MARREL! Lire is for sellers in ‘atent Office. $ ted. I " “The , SENT YOU FROM FRANCE Champagne of Table Until now LI an entirely satis The new operation. of LIFE. water?” A NEW IDEA IN BINDERS has never been able to supply ‘actory binder for the convenient and safe preser- vation of the copies of the journal. invention ex convenient volume to Sent post free to any address in the United States on receipt of $1.50 LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West Thirty-first Street Lack of Faith Proven During an extended drought, down in * the land that inspires the ragtime song writers, the “Rev'end” George Wash- ington called a gathering of his colored brethren to supplicate the Lord for rain, Before he opened his sermon the “Reviend” surveyed his cong critically, and with increasing faction. At last he lamented: "De lack ob faith ob yo’ niggers is scandalous and sinful, and makes my heart sore and weary and plumb afearcd for your souls, Heah we hab gathered to beg de Lord to stop de drought dat is burning up our fields, and to bless us with rain in abundance. And not one, no, sah, not one ob yo" disgraceful sin- ners had faith enough to bring an um- brella to go home with.’ ybody's Magazine, Counray Lavy: I've been expecting a packet of medicine by post for a week, haven't received it ye Post Orrice Creek: Yes, madam. Kina.y fill in this form and state the nature of your complaint. Lavy: Well, if you rs in Great Britain nthe world. The ms Buildings, Lond: unless accompanied by ‘stomped and adresse! responsible for the loss or non-return of wn y be obtained fro trade supplied f Cc nige of address should reagh this office ten days prior to the date ¢ its readers with nds or contracts at will, and makes a handle as well as being very simple in It_is handsomely made, the outside being black Art Buckram with cover design in gilt, and is made to hold a full year's copies New York City Ab: Ind |Provi comic! ookskeon