Life, 1921-01-13 · page 12 of 36
Life — January 13, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **"In Most Cases"** is a poem about theater owners warning patrons not to misbehave, suggesting audiences were rowdy and theaters needed to enforce conduct. **"Engagement Stuff"** mocks the tedious questions people ask newly engaged couples—repeatedly asking about ring details, bridesmaids, wedding location, and hairstyles. The satire targets how engagement announcements trigger intrusive social curiosity. **"Willie's Trouble Came All in a Lump"** is a four-panel comic strip showing someone (Willie) experiencing physical mishaps—presumably with an umbrella or similar object causing escalating chaos. The humor reflects early 1900s social anxieties about public behavior, marriage conventions, and slapstick misfortune. No specific political figures or dated references are clearly identifiable in the visible content.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JAMED WONTDINERY FLAGS IN MOST CASES Said a bright theatre-owner named Snack “Give folks what they want—that’s the knack, Your theatre they'll haunt, For they know what they want!” They do, They all want their cash back. Slipping “TS it true that Mason, after only three months of married life, has become henpecked?” “Well, perhaps not quite so bad as that, but the poor fellow is losing his morale.” (CREATIVE ability needs no self- starter. Reckless Thought HEN we told Imogene that a scien- tific expedition had been sent to Tibet to search for the Missing Links, she laughed mockingly. “Why in the world should any one ex- pect to find golf courses in such an out- landish place as that?” was her per- fectly natural query. Engagement Stuff By ales so you are really, truly engaged! I'm so excited! Do let me see the ring.” (She sees it.) “ How pear-fectly adorable! Have you got your (whisper-whisper) yet? May I see them?” 7 (She sees them.) “ How pear-fectly exquisite! And your (whisper-whisper)? Will they be trimmed with—oh, they are! My dear, I'd adore to see them!” (She sees them.) “How pear-fectly ducky! chosen your bridesmaids? who?” (She is told who.) “How pear-fectly angelic! Has the date been set? Oh, I see. It’s a secret Please tell me when?” (She is told when.) “How pear-fectly heavenly! And will it be in St. John’s? No? Where will it be?” (She is told where.) “How pear-fectly blissful! My dear, what are you using on your hair? It looks simply appetising!” (She is told what.) “How pear-fectly—er—er— Well, my dear, I simply must go. There is some- thing else I was going to ask you about your engagement, and I can’t for the life of me think what it was. What could it have been?” (She is not enlightened.) “Oh, I have it! I was only going to ask you—who is the man?” CL. F. Have you Tell me OST: Charles Lamb says if there he a regal solitude it is a sick bed. Poet: Hm! I guess he never was a patient in a free hospital. WILLIE’S TROUBLE CAME ALL IN A LUMP comicbooks.com