Life, 1919-09-04 · page 32 of 48
Life — September 4, 1919 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short satirical pieces typical of Life magazine's humor: **"Our Foolish Contemporaries"** presents brief comic anecdotes mocking human behavior—tourists complaining about changed hospitality, young women attracted to unsuitable men, and government officials. **The Egyptian Deities cigarette ad** (center-right) uses Egyptian imagery and stereotypes to market cigarettes as sophisticated, playing on early 20th-century fascination with Egypt and Egyptology. **"A Signal Post"** jokes about a barber cutting a customer's face intentionally to impress the man's maid—dark humor about courtship sabotage. **The cartoon (bottom center)** shows a soldier confused by "League of Nations," with the caption suggesting it's Wilson's invention to make it safe for Democrats to travel—political satire about post-WWI international diplomacy and partisan skepticism. **Other pieces** satirize new household workers, obedient modern parents, and editorial ethics. The ads (Rameses cigarettes, fingerprinting school) are period typical. Overall, the page reflects 1920s American attitudes: skepticism toward progressive ideals, gender/class humor, and casual use of ethnic stereotypes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
414 OURS FOOLIS CONTEMPORARIES Bn “Whatever has happened to all you ? “Why, you were complained the tourist. last year, when I came her all so nice and friendly, and now every body's too proud to speak!” The oldest inhabitant solved the prob Well, yer see, mister, it's jest vil pride book wot fell out 0” a mot we know that Bill Smitl, ‘e found a guide Winyel’s yravel-pit's a precipice, t' old duck pond’s a mountain tarn, while Jim's pub's a wayside ‘ostel an’ the ‘ole countryside is full 0° ‘istori cal hanecdotes.°—Tit-Kits Pinch, use ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE. A Great Season “Did you meet any nice young men at the seashore?” “Yes, any number of them, and two perfectly charming men that mother and father both objected to.” —Detroit Free Press. A MAN recently de: himself as Is there » Opinion, “a late government another sort, then ?. Dower l RAMESES || Hi Y eamccwet tune nae apr ate agen Gy a | RKISM TOBACCO AY lobody ever changes rom RAMESES CIGARETTES —the cigarette world produces nothing better | | | | ii gl le ou EGYPTIAN DEITIES “The Utmost in Cigarettes” PlainEnd or Cork Tip People of culture and refinement invariably PREFER ‘Deities to any other cigarette A Signal Post Fiest Bawuew: you gave that oll man while shaving him Secoxo Banwer That was a bad cut Oh, there's a reason for it. Um courting his maid, and that cut will let her know that [ can meet —Dallas N Most Unusual The new cook behaves very her this ¢ Mus, A strangely Mas. B. Mes. A.: She acts as if she thought the whole house belongs to me. —Roston Transcript. I'm rather suspicious of her What does she do? Corporal: WwMat’s ALL DIS MEAN LEAGUE OW NATIONS? | WHY, MAN, DAT'S AN IDEA oF Mk, WILSON'S TO MAKE IT SAFE FO" A DEMOCRAT TO GO ANYWHERE. Incorrigible “ We are living tn the age of the most obedient parents in the world’s history,” said a Philadelphia educator. Possibly so, but they still haven't been cured of the habit of talking ck, Only last night we heard a nine-year-old boy tell his mother she could either buy him a ten-cent box of popcorn or he woulds take any, and she said, “Now, Willie,” two or three times, and as long as we hung around he couldn't 1 an shut up—Kansas City Star. ke that wom: Then It's Too Late “Ts this for public the conscientious inte “How do I know?" rejoined Senator “It's impossible to be sure whether anything ought to be published till after it appears in print.” inquired Sorghum. —Washington Star, Ar least try to live within the means of your landlord.—IWall Street Journal Be a Finger Print FINGER | Police departments, factories and industries eve are adopting this system of Mentiscation Esper at once. You can train yoursell ia spare tise & Wene tor dewils. Free Book—Write (22s er es of specu ud let's see what you #8 and illustrators earn fro 1v practical sy fividual lessons by mail will deve possibilities for YOU. Srate » The Landon School : | ate scnovieto BLDE,, € CLEVELAND. 0, comicbooks.c@aym