Life, 1921-12-01 · page 52 of 58
Life — December 1, 1921 — page 52: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life magazine (a satirical publication) contains Jim Henry's column promoting Mennen shaving products alongside short humorous anecdotes under "Our Foolish Contemporaries." **Jim Henry's Column**: A thinly-veiled advertisement disguised as editorial commentary. Henry argues against giving his father conventional Christmas gifts, urging instead that he experience the "solemn occasion" of purchasing Mennen Shaving Cream himself—positioning the product as a transformative experience rather than merchandise. **The Anecdotes**: Four brief satirical pieces mocking contemporary society: - A Jewish businessman ignorant of social terminology - A policeman unfamiliar with a war hero (General Beatty, likely Admiral Beatty from WWI) - A doctor lamenting Prohibition's enforcement, losing prescription-writing income - A magistrate questioning a child whose father is a "retired bankrupt" These jokes rely on stereotypes and period social attitudes now considered offensive. The satire targets institutional hypocrisy—particularly Prohibition enforcement and professional corruption—rather than ethnic groups, though the anti-Semitic humor is explicit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jim Henry's Column Xmas I always feel like protesting to someone whenever I see that vulgar caricature of the most beautiful word in human speech. It is particularly offensive to me when used as the introduction of the thought that someone should present me, this Christmas, with a single action wheelbarrow, a new steam-heating outfit or a farm stump-puller. Now, of course, I appreciate what a lovely thing it would be for the family to club together and give to Dad a nice big tube of Mennen Shaving Cream, prettily festooned with ribbon and a sprig of holly, inadvertently dropping his grandfather's shaving mug into the ash can. It is even true that this introduction to the delights of Mennen shaves would more than repay him for two fur coats, a bicycle, a diamond brooch, a phonograph and a walking doll. But, honestly, that isn’t the way I want to land him. I want to do business with principals. I want him to buy his first tube of Mennen’s himself—because I have succeeded at last in convincing him that Mennen’s is a truly marvelous improvement overhis old-timer’s soap. I want him to appreciate that his first Mennen shave is an important and solemn occasion—the obsequies of a bad habit and the initiation into a new and better way. I want his mind to be all prepared for that wonderful bank of Mennen lather, moist as mist and firm as whipped cream—and for the sensa- tion of razor play that is ike a caress—and for the joyous feeling of a face that is smooth instead of skinned. If you are approaching this state of conviction and anticipation, why not make yourself a present ? ° bese Heng. (Mennen Salesman) I'll send a demonstrator tube for 10 cents. THe Mennen Company Newark, NJ. U.S.A. : LIFE An Opening One City man was telling another that he intended looking out for a little pom to give to his wife for a present, and mentioned that he did not mind going to £35 for a good one. A business-like but very ignorant Jew, who had been listening, joined in the conversation, saying that he had a pom for sale but wanted £40 for it. The City man, seeing no way of getting it cheaper, said: will give you £40 for it.” An hour afterwards the Jew met a friend of his and exclaimed: “Solly, my old friend—a matter of business—tell me, what is a pom?” —Weekly Telegraph (London). Such Is Fame Broadway was beginning to line up along the curbs in anticipation of the ar- rival of one of the distinguished European war heroes coming here to participate in the limitation of armaments conference. Someone approached a policeman stand- ing at the side of the street, with the inter- | rogation, “ “Don’t you read the papers? reply. “General Beatty is coming.” —Wall Strect Journal. “What's the crowd waiting for?” ” was the Humor of the Law A certain physician is much peeved be- cause of the lax enforcement of the pro- hibition laws. He said: “Why, anyone can get liquor whenever he wants it.” and then, after a pause: Vd lil to know where they get it. They don’t come to me any more for pre- scriptions.” —Central Law Journal (St. Louis). Study in High Finance “But your father must have some pro- fession or business,” said the kindly mag- istrate to the small offender charged with stone-throwing to tne danger, etc. “Come, come, what is he?” “Please, sir, he’s a_retired bankrupt,” bleated the budding George Washington. —Town Topics (London). The Challenge of Statistics “Four thousand worlds like ours placed edge to edge,” says Mr. John Bray, of Paris, “would hardly reach the nearest star.” In that case it hardly seems worth while trying it—Punch. Tricks of the Trade CHAUFFEUR (to taxi-driver): lend us your wrench a minute. Taxi-Driver: Not much, cully—that’s ‘ow I got it!—London Opinion. I say, Go West, Young Woman “The film companies keep going to Cali- fornia.” “Westward the course of vampire takes its way.”—Louisville Courier-Journal. Stupe: What's the masculine for “laun- dress”? Sruvent: Chinaman.—Geurgia Cracker. “Very well; bring it to | my office, and if it is really a good one | | MADISON AVE., 43rd TO 44th STREETS NEW YORK Dancing in the Supper Room Tea in the-Palm Room Friday Morning Musicales JOHN McE. BOWMAN, ‘President INSIST ON IT by name by. name y name PISO'S SAFE AND SANE For Coughs & Colds This syrup 1s different from all others Pleasant—sives quick relief Contains fv oprates—good for young and old 35¢ per bottle everywhere comicbooks.com