Life, 1921-02-03 · page 23 of 46
Life — February 3, 1921 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Story ("Nemesis"):** A man named Stillson struggles with chronic forgetfulness—specifically, repeatedly forgetting to buy blotters (absorbent paper for ink blotting, essential office supplies). The satire mocks modern urban life's relentless pace: despite elaborate resolutions, he gets swept up in the day's chaos (mail, trolley, office work, phone calls) and arrives home having forgotten his simple errand. The joke plays on how efficiency-obsessed modern life creates anxiety over trivial matters. **Top Cartoon:** A Scotsman's dialect humor—a stranger asks for a match to light a cigarette; the Scot replies he'll light his own pipe in five minutes if the stranger can wait. It's gentle ethnic comedy typical of early 20th-century publications. **Bottom Cartoon Strip:** "Necessity is Once More a Mother"—appears to be crime-prevention satire. Given the reference to "crime wave" and "safe-waistcoat," it likely mocks contemporary concerns about urban crime and suggests absurd protective clothing solutions. The panels (unclear without better image resolution) presumably show escalating security measures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i mye BN LOY aw, en Stranger Ne Se Fx RASA mY" z E = HOW DO YOU DO, SIR: HAVE YOU A MATCH TO SPARE? Scot: AYE, 1 HOV,—BUT VILL BE LIGHTIN’ MA AIN PIPE IN FIVE MEENITS IP YE CAN WAIT Nemesis TILLSON threw down his pen angrily. He was in a bad mood. There was a singular lack in his life somewhere. And he knew what it was. He got up and paced the floor, Then he grew calmer and faced the thing. Next time,” he said, “I'll remember.” He made an involuntary movement to- ward his notebook; but stopped in time. “Not that, not that!" he muttered. “That way lies slavery. I will die before 1 become an efficiency expert.” He wondered whether he would ever be able to conquer this hideous thing. Then a moment of intense resolution followed. “Vl carry this thought with me,” he muttered, “until—" He hurried out of the house—to the —to the trolley—along the crowded streets past the stationer’s shop—to his office—the large mail, the callers, the ar- gvment —- noon — the countless telephone THAT LONG. calls—the zero hour—the hurried exit— Latest Style the dash home—the dinner—the feverish smoke—the entrance to his den—the in- IRST AMATEUR GUNMAN: I've come-tax report—the desk—the pen— got to get busy and get me a new “Good God!” he shouted in agony “Once more I've forgotten to buy that ackage of blotters!” xet yours from? winter overcoat. Seconn A. G.: What restaurant do you NECESSITY IS ONCE MORE A MOTHER FOR THE CRIME WAVE—WHY NOT A SAFE-WAISTCOAT? comicbooks.com