Life, 1919-04-17 · page 32 of 46
Life — April 17, 1919 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* contains three brief satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **"A Great Objection"** mocks patent medicines by presenting a skeptical rural character (Lafe Lopp) who argues that taking patent remedies "cures" people and thus ruins them socially—they lose the sympathy and respect they'd enjoyed while sick, making them unwilling to work. **"A Wise Salesman"** presents a mule-selling transaction where a white buyer (Mr. Babcock) asks a Black man where he lives, planning to move the mule away to prevent the owner from bothering him about its faults. The humor relies on the buyer's dishonest scheme. **"Explicit"** concerns indirect insults in legal contexts, using an anecdote about a woman calling her parrot downstairs—implying the parrot (not the man) dropped his collar-stud, thus avoiding direct accusation while conveying insult. The page also contains period advertisements for cigars and candy. The satire reflects common early 1900s anxieties about patent medicines and social propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SCISSORS A Wise Salesman Mr. Babcock was driving through i country, trying to buy a mule. He yg directed to a colored man who had cq for sale. “Do you want to sell A Great Objection “I don't take any stock in these ‘ere paytent- medicines,” asserted Lafe opp. a languid citizen of Wayoverbehind “They're an enemy to the human race pose, now, you are getting along all ight, unable to work b'cuz you're sick ; you're pretty miserable, of course, but people sympathize with you and respect you. And then somebody persuades you to take a few bottles of So-and-So, and you cd and yet your picture in the almanac. And forever afterward every body wants to know why you don’t go to work, dad-blame your ornery hide. c y Gentleman. Juvce (to witness): Why didn’t you » 10 the help of the defendant in the fight? Witxess: I didn't know which was going to be the defendant Boston Transcript YESTERDAY Lire is published every Thursday, si in the U tates, Great Britain Canada and British Possessions, Title registered in U. S. Patent Office. $5.00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign coun the Postal Union, $1 to Canada, 52 cents. § urrent copies, 10 ¢ from date of public cents, Issues prior to 1010 out of pri 4a year; ths text and illustrations in Live are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain s House, Breams Build: er Lane, London, E A ripe, mellow, aromatic Havana smoke—brimming full of pleasure but empty of regret. Broker size 13c, 2 for 2Sc: other sizes 10c and up. Antonio Roig & Lantsdorl : Makers : Philadelphia GIRARD Never gets on your nerves England. AND tule?” ashe replied the « I ask whar yo’ live, sah? “What has that got to queried Babcock Well,” explained the gwine ter transfer dat dat lives less dan two away from here. When | I wants to git rid not on wner, of all conversation "Harper's Explicit “It is not always nece direct accusation,” said th was asking damages beeaus. insinuati had been made against his name. “You may have heard of 4 woman who called to the saidsery “Mary, Mary, come here and take tif parrot downstairs — the TO-toRsow dropped his collar-stud ! Live is for sale by all newsdealers in Great Britain and may 1 sellers in all the principal cities in the world. The foreig Livn’s London Office, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Londo No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by envelope, Lire docs not hold itself responsible for the loss or licited contributions. Notice of ch of address should reach this office ten days issue to be affected. NEw as al YORK Candies