Life, 1921-08-25 · page 9 of 34
Life — August 25, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a social satire about class pretension. A well-dressed man on the left is walking away from a group of people gathered around a carriage. The dialogue reveals the joke: someone calls him "a gentleman farmer," but another corrects this—he "isn't even a farmer." This mocks urban wealthy people who adopt rural affectations or claim agricultural pursuits without genuine farming knowledge or commitment. Below are three brief humorous sketches: "Saturday P.M." shows a boy asking his mother about bath water, "True Hospitality" discusses umbrellas in a house, and "Adjustment" presents a country editor's job expectations versus reality. These are typical genteel humor pieces typical of Life's satirical approach to middle-class American life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“He's a gentleman farmer, isn’t he?” ‘Tur Lapy: Well, if you like me so much, I should think you'd like to please me by going quietly away. I'll give you one of my pictures if you will. Burctar: Oh! That would be too tell me where those pearls are—that’s all I ask, lady. ‘Tite Lavy: You'd better go before my husband comes. He's a crackshot, much; jus believe me. Burctar: No fears of him; he’s tak- ing « little rest cure in the library. ‘Tne Lapy: Well, the pearls are be- hind that Bible on that shelf by the fire- place BurcLar: Now you're talking se (He has laid the revolver down while looking through boxes on a dressing table, and as he turns toward the bookcase, the Lady points the shoe horn at him and fires. He reels and falls down with his head against the fireplace.) ‘THe Lapy: You see this shoe horn has all the modern improvements. Burctar (moaning): I’m done for! I'm done for! But say, you’re an artist, all right! ‘Tue Lapy: Oh, I try to do my best; but you’re not done for, only you won't go to the movies for quite a while. (She goes to the telephone and calls for a policeman.) Great heavens! (looking at her wrist watch) 1 forgot I’ve got to do “Great Scott, no! a picture before the dawn comes; I’ve only just time to make Fort Lee. (Throws on a fur coat and hat, puts shoe horn in one pocket and the burglar’s re- volver in the other.) You must excuse my rushing off like this. My husband will arrange everything. I’ll see him as I go out. Saturday P. M. Buck Jones: Hey, Mom, I’ve took my bath—you kin come up and lookit the water, Why, he isn’t even a farmer.” Burciar: One last request, lady. Tue Lapy: Oh, yes, my picture; I'll autograph it for you. (Takes up a pic- ture from writing desk.) How do you like this sitting position on an avalanche? or I think this is more natural, standing in front of a locomotive. (Takes pen and makes a flourishing autograph across the picture and hands it to the burgiar.) Take care, it’s not dry yet! Good-by; so sweet of you to have recognized me. ( Exit.) Burcar (gazing at the photograph): My, ain’t. it swell—that’s worth going up the river for. True Hospitality Y wife thinks we run a hospitable house. What's your notion of a hospitable house?” “Oh, for me, I feel that it’s a hospitable house when in the come and go of com- pany enough umbrellas are left to keep it supplied.” Adjustment IOUNTRY EDITOR (to new as- sistant): I shall expect you to write all the editorials, do the religious and sporting departments and turn out a joke column. Assistant: What are you going to do? “Edit your copy.” comicbooks.com