Life, 1921-03-03 · page 17 of 38
Life — March 3, 1921 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"He Needed Jacking Up"**: A dialogue between two fashionable men discusses the challenge of fitting into tight spring menswear. The joke centers on post-WWI carelessness about personal appearance—one man admits buying trousers intentionally loose to avoid effort, which his friend scolds as character deterioration. The cartoon mocks how men must "jack themselves up" (maintain discipline) to manage new tight-fitting styles. **"He Did His Own Napping"**: A satirical poem about a wealthy young man employing a Japanese servant to perform even trivial tasks, including smoking a pipe so the employer can nap undisturbed. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward servant employment and leisure-class excess. **"Mother's Filing System for Neighbors"**: A social commentary where a mother categorizes neighbors while restricting her children's contact—criticizing the Smithsons' daughter as "forward," the Jenkinses' son as "spoiled," the Fairlies' indulgent parenting, and the Greens' rowdy children. Only the childless Blakes escape judgment, highlighting middle-class social anxiety and gossip.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
March 3 He Needed Jacking Up Men’s Spring styles will be tight around the hips—Tailor’s Announce- ment. REDDIE: Excuse me, old fellow, there’s a horrid wrinkle on your left side, There! Fexvy: Thanks awfully, old dear. But do tell me, how do you get into yours? You're always so smart. Frenoie: I use an improved shoe horn with a stunning wide blade. Fexny (sighing): I wish I had your energy. I had these trousers made a quarter of an inch too loose, just to save myself Freniue: You mustn't. That's the re- action after the war. We all get careless. Don't do it, old chap. One’s character must Le conserved. Fesoy: How can I keep myself up? Tell m Frenoie: Easy. When it takes you less than an hour and a quarter in the morn- ing to get your things on, then you're in danger! TAMER WOTEOMERY HACG * . HEN a man loses his head his heart HE DID HIS OWN NAPPING as y eded it. ‘ has usually preceded ii A tired young millionaire chap Had everything done by his Jap. When he felt like a smoke, _ He would make the poor bloke Smoke a pipe for him—he'd take a nap! Mother's Filing System for Neighbors HE SMITHSONS: Nice people, and especially kind about their car, but it seems wise to find pretexts for keep- ing Robert away from their house as much as possible, as the daughter is a forward minx, with all sorts of queer, ultra- modern ideas. Besides, it's sinful for a boy with his allowance to take such an extravagant girl out anywhere. Mrs. Jenkins: Very sympathetic and goes out of her way to be neighborly. Feel mean about not being more responsive, but the son is a spoiled little cad, and closer intimacy between the families might lead to his calling on Ethel more frequently. Hope his interest isn't as great as it seems. The Fairlies: Most cordial and attractive people, but I must be careful about letting Jimmy go there to play every time they ask him. The children are allowed to have candy, cake and ice cream at all hours, and if Jimmy comes home feeling ill, Mrs. Fairlie coos over the ‘phone that it must be because I am hold- ing a Wrong Thought. Sometimes it's quite a strain to be nice about it. The Greens: A jolly family, but since Muriel has been romp- ing with all those noisy little boys her manners are getting simply imapossible. The Blakes: Perfect neighbors, but can't quite feel that we are on congenial ground as they have no children, CONTENTMENT is mercly the knack of not wanting the things we know we can’t have. “Lire’s” FAMILY TREE. comicbooks.com