Life, 1920-10-14 · page 38 of 44
Life — October 14, 1920 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising** (W.L. Douglas shoes, Bell-Ans antacid, Fox's puttees, and hair products), but includes one satirical piece: "Business of Paging Houdini." The **cartoon joke** concerns a bank president who complains that cigars make him sick, wishing they were deadly so he'd quit smoking. A chemist offers to insert rubber and celluloid into his cigars to make him "absolutely insensible for days"—a darkly comic "solution" to his problem. The satire targets: - **Smoking culture**: Anti-tobacco sentiment was growing in 1914 - **Social hypocrisy**: The president won't quit despite suffering, and friends won't offer him cheaper cigars because it would damage his social status - **Class anxiety**: Smoking expensive cigars is a marker of respectability he can't abandon without "losing caste" The reference to **Houdini** (famous escape artist) in the title suggests the bank president is trapped—unable to escape his own habits or social expectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WZ. THE SHOE THAT HOLDS AGE: $720 $800 $900 & $10-2° SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY WEARING W. L. DOUGLAS SHOES Liy e best known shoes in the world. They are sold in 107 W. L. Douglas stores, direct} from the factory to you Sy *45085.0055:50 at only one profit, which guarantees to you the best shoes that can be produced, at the lowest possible cost. W.L. Douglas name and the retail price are stamped on the bottom of all shoes before they leave the factory, which is your protection against unreasonable profits. W.L.Douglas $9.00 and $10.00 shoes are abso- lutely the best shoe values for the money in this country. They are made of the best and finest leathers that money can buy. They combine quality, style, workmanship and wearing quali- those of his friends. Still—the frieng of a bank president would not be in clined to offer him even the mediocre vileness of a fifteen-cent cigar (eigh: cents in 1914). To resort to a cheap and lowly brand himself would only make him lose caste, His is an almost hopeless case. On the other hand, it is quite possiby that the bank president is so hardened that even a Pittsburgh stogie would have no effect. In which event But stay, The staff chemical expert has re. turned with a simple formula of gram. lated rubber and celluloid scraps, whic he guarantees will carry out the ide The substance, he insists, included inside the wrapper of the highest-priced cigar, will not only make the smoker deathly sick, but render him absolutely insensible for days. We accept the thanks and blessings of the bank president. 1f he does not ca to insert the rubber and celluloid himseli, upon receipt of a box of his cigars, oo chemist will be happy to do so. By as siduous application to the contents of the returned box, a victory over the demoa tobacco may be assured. Likewise, we trust that the bank pres- dent will not forget to mention us in his will, ties equal toother makes selling at higher prices. They are the leaders in the fashion centers of | - America. The stamped price is W. L. Douglas | personal guarantee that the shoes are always worth the price paid for them. The prices are the same everywhere; they cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York. W. L. Douglas shoes are made by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest determination to make the best shoes for the price that money can buy. W. L. Douglas shoes are for sale by over 9000 shoo dealers Desides our own stores. If your local dealer cannot suppl: ou take no other make. Order direct from factory. Send ‘or booklet telling how to order shoes by mall, postage free. ped it President W.L.Douglas Shoe Co., stam; 147 Spark Street, that it has not been changed or mutilated. Brockton, Mass, PT TUSSI TUSSI TSTMS LUGS Tosi MA STU SSeTL bs edTbaUL TTT SOTTO Tha “=p” PUTTEES "sno. smarter leg covering for the sporti han Fox's Spiral Puttees. They are made of nglish wool, in curved form, to ft the leg neat spirals. They will not fray and rv the edges, are waterproof and much more comfcr than leather or canvas. Colo cadet blue. | Business of Paging Houdini A Bank Pxesipest Fetterco Mr. Sivad cites another instance of a bank president who said to him: “1 would to God every cigar I smoke would make me deathly sick!’ said, * do you wish that?’ Ie replied, if it did, I could quit smokin; —Anti-Tobacco Journal Eatre Moe Entre Vine Light Shade. THE MANLEYJOHNSON CORPORATION 200 W, Broadway, Dept. 1, Sew Tork Cis HE thought of a bank president who | telling | é story. hieg 6 Beteans | Hot water cannot get his wishes granted is one on the market. B sufficient to turn strong men pale. We chess a fet hasten to turn the problem over to our Dres: dresses f chemi . contrary hair ia staff chemist. derfal manner. 0 Of course if the bank president per- ceipt osstodl fred sists in smoking high-grade cigars, it is Money refunded i reasonably certain that he cannot have his > pleasing. Barbers) Before Using Marvel Alter Using Marvel notice. wish granted. He might try smoking MARVEL, 548 Fourth Avenue, Pittsbu comicbooks.c¢oml