Life, 1918-08-22 · page 32 of 34
Life — August 22, 1918 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines humor pieces with advertising. The main satirical content includes: **"Large Enough"** anecdote: A joke about former President Taft, exploiting his well-known obesity. As a young law reporter, Taft allegedly wired a railroad to stop an express train, claiming he needed space for a "large party"—the punchline being that he *himself* constituted the party. The humor relies on Taft's physical size being understood as comically enormous. **"Not Mere, After All"** and **"A Close Call"**: Brief humorous dialogues about gender relations and marriage negotiations, reflecting early 20th-century social attitudes. **"Stakes of the War"** advertisement: Promotes a book about World War I territorial disputes, endorsed by ex-President Taft. The page is primarily **advertising-driven**, featuring cigarette and patent medicine ads (Bell-Ans, Cuticura, Bogalusa). The satirical content is minimal—mostly wordplay and personality-based humor rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Large Enough Former President Taft, in his younger days, when he was a law reporter, had heen studying a.case in Somerville, Ohio, and found he couldn't get back to the office that night unless he managed to stop a through express. So he wired to headquarters, “ Will you stop the through express at Somerville to take on large party?" The answer came back, “ Yes. The express was duly stopped at Som- erville, The young law reporter got ard with his copy, and the conductor Wiaere’s that large party Twas “ was the chuckling answer, “That's all.”"—Christian Register, “Tuiery cents for that bit of ice “Yes, but there’s no use kicking. Stop I put it in the re- erator before it disappears.” “T wasn't mooning. I was just trying ste the value of that pond I ikated overéo cal ssly last December.” —Kansas City Journal Stakes of the War This book tells you what you have been wanting to know about all the principal racial and territorial problems involved in the war ; the prob- lems of the Ukraine, the Yugo-Slav territories, Poland, Belgium, the Baltic Provinces, Mesopotamia, ete., ete. In the presentation of cach problem there is given a short historical background, an eco- nomic survey, and a clear analysis of the facts that one most desires to know; such facts as, the loca-| tion of the territory, the different races comprising the population, what nation has controlled or oc- cupied the territory, the political, economic, strategic, racial, cultur-| al, and religious interests that various nations have in the terri- tory, and a summary of the vari- ous solutions that have heen proposed, There are thirteen politi- cal, racial and economic maps “Stakes of the War” is by roe op, Stoddard and = Glenn nk, is warmly recommended y Ex-President Taft, and is pub- Reveal by The Century Co. New York. It is at all bookstores. Price $2.50. Rople of ci! refinement ‘early PREFER. Deitis t0 any other cigarette Sings Not Mere, After The small hoy sometimes and sees far, He reads the times unabashed. John, at_a_co-cduea- tional school, cut qitite a good figure at the examinations, but failed to get the highest’ marks awarded in his xed class, His father was astonished and in censed eaten by a girl! John, Tam surprised to find that you have allowed yourself to be defeated by a mere girl.” “Yes, father.” ly, “T have; but 1 can te says John, A Close Call Girt How much for a conse, please? Ten shillings five shillings with Recistear: Gree: I've only me. Reoisteax: Then you're hicky A! TER dinner at the Mitre conver- sation turned upon the subject of Joining amusement with self-impro: vient. Dr. Johnson had honored me with his company, and was in a felicit- oushumor, Boswett: “ Should not the two things be separated for the better use of both?” Jounsox means, Sir, One of the wisest men I ever knew was an annual subscriber to Lire, and by the regular perusal of that Journal had come to combine in him- self to an unusual degree a ready wit and a sane judgment. If he had read only serious literature he would prob- ably have been only a solemn ass and a continuous bore. But he leavened his knowledge with humor.” tr ee it. 25¢ ar all druggist Cuticura Heals ) Itching Burning mes Skin Troubles intment 2 and 0, Tal Sample each trey of “Cuticars, Dept. B, Boston. A TERTOTAL ECLIPSE StiOn.One Packag Mil drogaiste: Soap of Destiny” ‘What do you mean—" 27 Well, its, bank deposits are $1,750,000, (SUI per) Write the Mayet