Life, 1917-12-20 · page 34 of 40
Life — December 20, 1917 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **four separate humorous sketches** rather than political cartoons: 1. **"All Clear Now"**: A WWI-era joke where an old farmer questions his soldier son about tanks. The son's colorful but vague description ("wobbling thingamabobs...blaze away like billyo") mirrors how ordinary people understood new military technology through fragmentary wartime reports. 2. **"Satisfied So Far"**: A domestic humor piece about a new cook—a common topic in early 20th-century magazines about household staff. 3. **"Try This"**: An anecdote about a traveling salesman's quick wit. When a manager tears up his card, the salesman sends back five cents with a message: "Tell your boss I sell two cards for five cents"—a clever reversal that earns him an interview. 4. **"Twice in the Same Place"**: A WWI trench humor sketch. An officer hits a soldier with his car in Flanders mud; the soldier sarcastically asks if he should back up—implying he's already been run over before in the same spot. The page also includes advertisements for Lysol and a Life calendar. The humor predominantly references **World War I** and early 20th-century domestic life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1062 Qe SSAUT SCISSORS (am | 4 Aut NULLUS All Clear Now Oto Farwer (to soldier son just re- turned from the front): Well, Dick, what be these tanks like that there’s so much talk about? Sox: Why. they're just wobblir thin ‘ems, and thgy blaze away like billyo! Ovo Farmer: Ay, I beard they was wonderful things, but I never could get any details afore.—7it-Bits Satisfied So Far Mes, Featnusi: Iam very well satis fied with my new cook so far. Mrs, Bensonuturst: How long have you had her? “She comes to-morrow Me mabobs, full o’ what-you-may- “Whar sort of fellow is he? “Til tell you in a few words, He's one of those ‘if. kind.’ "—Detroit Free Press. Lire is published every Thursday. sin ited States, Great Br ssessions, Title registered in atent Office. ancously in the Un s. 1 postage to foreign countries in the Postal uurrent copies, G@D COMPANY GWD DINNER: OF COURSE KING OF TABLE WATERS were-running:(his-war, Johnny: TWIs MUST BE ONE Of THEM SENSIMLE, GIFTS Try This . The quick wit of a traveling salesman, who has since become a well-known pro- prictor, was severely tested one day. He sent in his card by the office-boy to the manager of a large concern, whose inner office was separated from the waiting- room by a ground-glass partition. When the boy handed his card to the manager the salesman saw him impatiently tear it in half and throw it in the waste- basket; the boy came out and told the caller that he could not see the chief. The salesman told the boy to go back and get him his card; the boy brought out five cents, with the message that his card was torn up. Then the salesma took out another card and sent the boy back, sayin ell your boss I sell two cards for five cents.” He got his interview and sold a large bill of goods. —Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. Twice in the Same Place Orricer (as his car bumps over pe- Ne destrian’s legs): Hey, there! Look out! Tousy (picking himself out of the Flanders mud): Wat yuh goin’ to do? Back up?—Gargoyle. sale by all newsdealers in Great Rritain a sellers in all the. principal cities in the world. Lire’s London Office, Rolls House, Br Buildings, London, E No contribution will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Live docs not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of uric licited contributions, Notice of change of address should reach this office ten days prior to the date ef issue to be affected. Live is fo 7 Prepaid to any address A highly serviceable Calendar, handsomely printed in colors and profusely illustrated throughout. Just the thing for a Christmas gift. The edition is limited. Order et once. LIFE, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York. E teteeseeeseee dollars, for which send me . copies of LIFE'S Calendar. 7 —):