Life, 1921-03-17 · page 32 of 40
Life — March 17, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several short humorous pieces typical of the publication's satirical style: **The cartoons/jokes** are brief, topical anecdotes: - A scientist requesting coal-mining clippings receives an absurd article about domestic violence involving coal - A grandmother forbidding Sunday novel-reading, ironically, based on moral grounds - A hypocritical communist preacher who practices communism in theory but keeps wealth personally - A domestic squabble about clothing expenses **The "Gray Hair" poem** is sentimental verse about aging and worry. **"The Wages of Death"** references Chinese attitudes toward human life's economic value—a somewhat condescending commentary on perceived cultural differences. **The advertisements** (Egyptian Deities cigarettes, The Biltmore hotel, University of Chicago) represent period marketing. The humor relies on irony, hypocrisy, and wordplay. Most jokes target class pretension, marital discord, and moral inconsistency—standard *Life* fare emphasizing middle-class social anxieties of the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
There is a New York scientist who is greatly interested in coal mining. He de- cided to subscribe to a press-clipping bureau, to get every new slant on coal, He said to the clipping bureau: “I want everything you can find about coal.” The first clipping he got was an article about a man who was suing his wife tor a separation because she hit him in the head with a lump of coal. —Atlanta Constitution, Grandma for a Blue Sunday “ Helen, I really cannot permit you to read novels on the Sabbath.” “But, grandma, this one is all right; it tells about a girl who was engaged to three Episcopal clergymen all at once.” —Boston Transcript, A Standstill Imprcunious One: What! fortune preaching Communism? Prosrerovs Ove: If you please, yes! I invite you to share it in the name of my principles—and in the name of yours I keep the money.—Le Journal Amusant (Paris). You with a “ BY JOVE, MILLY, YOU LOOK TOPPING TO-NIGHT, BUT WHAT A FEARFUL LOT Sue: (in @ tantrum): going away to die, and my powder puff. Absolutely! I'm Give me my toothbrush : citpent, —Sans-Géne (Paris). published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United State ain, Canada and British Possessions, Title registered in U. ce. $00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign countries in the Mfostal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents. Single current copies, 15*cents. Back numbers, after three months from date of publication, 25 cents. Issues prior to 1910 out of print. The text and illustrations in Live are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain apply to Jive, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, London, EXC, England, YOUR! FROCKS COST ME TItESE Days! DEAREST, MONEY MATTER WHEN IT’S A CASE OF MAKING you Happy?" —London Mail. A Gray Hair My first gray hair! I never knew that you were there, Nor least expected you soon— But you are there; From whence you came or where I know not, but I care. would come s0 You make me stop and wonder Why I find you there to-night, Is it some worry or some fright That leaves you colorless, and oh, so white? You'll not be seen, oh, no, not yet. On that your fondest curls you bet, For just as long as you are there I'll hide you very neatly—there! And none will wonder—only I, at you— My first gray hair. —Wells Hawks, in New York § The Wages of Death Lecturer (recapitulating) : Yes, friends, in China human life is consi of very little value. Indeed, if a we Chinaman is condemned to death he easily hire another to die for him. In many poor fellows get their living by act as substitutes. —Tit-Bit. Representatives Wagnerian opera is being success! performed in Paris. Germany's intelligence has always been better represented by its musicians and poets than by its politicians. —Washington Stor. WHAT DOES trade supplied from Lirr’s London Office, Rolls ings, London, E. Canadian distributor, J. R. T. 386-388 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada. No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Live does not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior to the date of issue to be affected. EGYPTIAN DEITIES “The Utmosb in Cigarettes” “Plain End ox Cork Jip People of cultureand refinement invariably PREFER. Deities to any other cigarette The BILTMORE Where the social life of New York centers by day and evening CLOSE TO ALL THEATRES AND SHOPS i HicHer Epucation} Baterabrpeenra The Bniversity of Ghicaga . gE Division 30, Chicago, u comicbooks.com