Life, 1917-11-08 · page 34 of 40
Life — November 8, 1917 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces typical of WWI-era *Life* magazine: **"A Problem in Smokes"** jokes that cigars in single men's vest pockets have vastly higher "mortality" (are smoked/consumed) than those carried by married men—implying married men are more restrained or their wives control their habits. **"The Manor" snippet** quotes an optimistic character named Blythe who finds silver linings in any misfortune (failed business? grateful for health; failed health? grateful for business), satirizing blind optimism. **"Life As a Christmas Present"** is an advertisement encouraging readers to send *Life* magazine subscriptions to soldiers at the front during WWI, framing it as meaningful wartime communication rather than frivolous tinsel. **"More Scotch Thrift"** attributes a humorous anecdote to Harry Lauder (famous Scottish entertainer) about a well-dressed stranger attending a funeral solely for free carriage exercise prescribed by his doctor—poking fun at Scottish frugality. All pieces employ gentle, era-appropriate humor about social habits and character types.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Problem in Smokes I hear tell That the mortality Among cigars Carried in the vest pockets By single men Is three thousand per cent. more Than in the same articles Carried in the same position By married men. —Arkansas Gazette. “THE MANOR" Asheville, North Carolina IN AMERICA-AN ENGLISH INN—Perfect GOLF. Hatt: Blythe is a pretty optimistic character, I hear. Watt: I should say so. If he failed in business he'd thank heaven he had his health; if he failed in health he'd thank heaven he had his business, and if he failed in both he'd say there was no use having one without the other. —Tit-Rits Life As a Christmas Present Useless Christmas gifts are going out. People are too busy with the war to waste their country’s time in sending presents that nobody wants. Yet never before was there need of so much genuine Christmas spirit. To every soldier at the front LIFE is a message from home. To a friend it will be more acceptable than much fine tinsel. Obey that impulse. ; Canadian, $5.52; ‘reign, $6.04. . To soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces, To members of the other armies abroad, $6.04. 17 W. 318t Street, New York. More Scotch Thrift Harry Lauder tells the following story about a funeral in Glasgow and a well- dressed stranger who took a seat in one of the mourning coaches. The other three occupants of the carriage were rather curious to know who he was. at last one of them began to The dialogue went like this “Ye'll be a brither 0” the corp?” “No, I'm no’ a brither o the corp.” “Weel, ye'll be his cousin?” “No, I'm no’ a cousin.” “At ony rate ye'll be a frien’ 0” the corp?” ‘ ‘m no! that cither. Ye see, I've n very weel masel,” the stranger explained complacently, “ an’ my doctor has ordered me carriage exercise, so I thocht this would be the cheapest way to tak’ it."—The Argonaut. “WHERE DID You GET IT?” “AT THE BANK, WE HAVE A JOINT AC COUNT THERE,”