Life, 1918-03-07 · page 37 of 40
Life — March 7, 1918 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **social conformity and club culture** in early 20th-century America. The main narrative depicts a couple (the Billingtons) who decide to leave town after being excluded from the local women's club—despite never wanting to join. The real-estate dealer's final punchline delivers the satire: they're the only neighbors who "strictly mind your own business," and this independence makes them social outcasts. The joke critiques how American communities **valued conformity and participation in civic/social organizations over genuine virtue**. By refusing to join clubs or participate in social movements, the Billingtons are seen as suspicious outsiders rather than respectable citizens. The page also contains **period advertisements** for lawn mowers, dental care products, and hair treatments—typical of the magazine's commercial content and reflecting consumer culture of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ington you that you hadn't joined something.” His wife opened her eyes. “That's precisely it,” she exclaimed, “though I can’t imagine how you guessed it; they said I did not beiong to the woman's club, although I had been asked, and there were a lot of es which I had declined to Attention of . Greens Committees! The new “PENNSYLVANIA” Putting Greens Sweeper will remove wet or dry worm casts in about one tenth the time consumed by the ordinary methods and without injury to the turf. It is also a superior lawn sweeper and leaf gatherer. “PENNSYLVANIA” Golf and Putting Greens Mowers are giving superior service to a large number of clubs in this, and other countries. other soc belong to. “Twas told the same thing.” “What shall we do?” Whatever Billington’s other short- comings might be, he was at least a keen business man fy dear,” he said ‘at last, “one thing is certain, We arc no longer wanted. That being the case, now is the time to sell out and move away to some more desirable place, where we will be more fully appreciated.” In another hour they were sitting in the office of the local real-estate dealer. A request for circular, with name of proper offi- cial to address, will re- ceive prompt attention, PENNSYLVANIA LAWN MOWER _ — WORKS |@Are your gums start- “PENNSYLVANIA” Patting Greens or Roller Mower ing to recede? : = De you realize the! full dangers of | bleeding and receding ums? They are the| ‘ore-runners of tooth | and gum decay. They immediately precede Pyorrhea ( Riggs’ Dis- | ease). With Pyorrhea the gums recede. The teeth loosen and a peculiar and repellent con- dition appears inside the mouth And four out of five people who are over forty suffer from Pyorrhea—and many under this age also. Ordinary tooth-pastes cannot prevent Pyorrhea. Forhan’s Preparation | positively will do so. if used in time and used consistently, Use it like a dentifrice, Then the gums will not tender up nor bleed: neither will the teeth loosen. No matter what your tooth-paste may be doing for your teeth, it does not possess the peculiar virtues of Forhan’s, If gum-shrinkage has already set in, start using Forhan’s and consult a dentist. im- mediately for special treatment 30c and 55¢ tubes. all druggists. FORHAN CO. 200 Sixth Ave.. N.Y. Send for Trial Tube Free. This gentleman's face brightened “Quite remarkable,” he said with a smile, “to think that you should have come in just at this moment, for I have aman who wants to buy it. What is your price?” Billington named a figure two thou- sand dollars more than he paid for it “Done.” The preliminary payment was made and the papers signed. Then Billing- ton, rising with his wife, turned to the real-estate man. “We have lived in this town for the t five y he said.“ During this period never created the slightest disturbance; we have gone about our affairs quietly, and have re- fused to mix up in what did not con- cern us. I, on my part, have kept out of politics, and my wife has kept out the new woman's fads. Nobody t the slightest aspersion upon us Now, sir, will you, out of cant Bug: WANNA JOIN THE ARMY? E NAVY FOR MINE, I'M A the depth of your experience and knowledge of this place, tell me what in the world is the matter with us “Don't you know?” estate man. “No, sir, I don't.” “Well, Tl tell you; you are the only people who live here who strictly mind your own busitiess. Isn't that enough? said the real- Pst HUS It was in one of those fearful rages which marred the carly years of his reign. He had just ordered three slaves to instant exe- cution, and was about to proceed to ‘s. ft that moment Hatu- sab, his lovely queen, remembered that as Tuesday morning and that the courier had just brought the weekly copy of Lire, to which the king was a regular subscriber. She sent for it at once, and as she handed it to her royal spouse his brow cleared, and all other atroci ‘0 8 Days ret ty recite /// Qf gstrreace Ni ee Sead For Free Trial Bottle spa :