Life, 1922-01-05 · page 28 of 34
Life — January 5, 1922 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (early 20th century) contains several brief satirical pieces and jokes reflecting working-class and social themes of the era: **"Three Laborers"** presents a parable about perspective: three stone-cutters describe their identical work differently—one sees only wages ($7.50/day), another sees the task itself, and the third sees meaningful purpose (building a cathedral). The satire suggests that attitude and vision, not circumstances, define one's work. **"It Couldn't Be Permanent"** and **"Bad Form"** are brief comedic anecdotes about employment and social propriety, typical of the magazine's humor format. **"Dignity and Impudence"** appears to be a dialogue between a prison inspector and an Irish prisoner (Pat McSweenie) identified as an Italian organ-grinder—likely playing on ethnic stereotypes common to 1920s American humor. The remaining pieces mock bureaucratic absurdity, poverty, and social pretension. The page also advertises Canadian Pacific cruise ships and Empire Loomcraft silk shirts—typical commercial content for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Three Laborers How do you visualize your job? The story of the three stone-cutters leaves noth- ing of wisdom to be said. They were work- ing on stone. a stranger sabed ithe first ! what he was doing. “I'm working for True, True! $7.50 a day,” he replied. “And you?” the “Now, gentlemen,” began the professor stranger asked the second. “I'm cutting in the dental school that had been opened this stone,” growled the laborer. When in the vocational training area, “what class the question was put to the third stone- of persons habitually suffer from acid cutter, he answered, “I’m building a cathe- mouth?” S dral.”—Christian Register. And the class answered as one man: 3 “First sergeants, sir!” =: Dignity and Impudence —American Legion Weekly. SS eee y Tue Inspector: Name? i = PrisoNER: Pat McSweenie, Sorr. It Couldn’t Be Permanent Tue Inspector: Nationality? “I knowed de job wasn’ gineter last Prisoner: irish. long,” said Uncle Eben, “when I found out Tue Inspector: Business? I was expected to assist a man to help a Prisoner: Italian organ-grinder, Sorr. man dat was passin’ de tools to another == £ —Sketch (London). man dat wasn’ doin’ much work in the fust = place.”—Washington Star. ==. And This Is Life “Mr. Wadleigh, a gentleman waits with- = a Bad el (i ilenn Pens == out to see you on urgent business.” IRST ENTLEMAN .DVENTURER in “Does he look Prosperous? a straits): We'd be better off in prison. THICK WEATHER * “He looks poor.” Seconp GENTLEMAN ApvENTURER: Oh, Bélénged Individuals °C Bt “In that case the urgency is his. Let him don’t talk shop. jerogeed —eaCividdal:, conese bres wait.”—Birmingham Age-Herald. opr cna Shtey. (London). Fr . where am I? This fog’s got me beat. assing Show (London), from a Play, Constable: I dunno—it’s got mine, too. “Wuat is a flapper?” Treat these war veterans right; we may —London Opini “A flapper, Henry, is the latest style cig- not have any more.—Atlanta Journal. sail a ae arette holder.”—Wesleyan Wasp. Lire is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, The foreign trade supplied from Lire’s London Office,. Rolls House, Great Britain, Canada and British Possessions. Title registered in U. S. Breams Buildings, London, E. C. Canadian distributor, J. R. Tanguay, Patent Offi $5.00 a year in advance. Additiona! postage to foreign 386-388 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada. countries in the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents. Back No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and numbers cannot be supplied, addressed envelope. Lire does not hold itself responsible for the loss or The text and illustrations in Lire are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights non-return of unsolicited contributions. 2 in Great Britain apply to Lire, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior Lane, London, England. to the date of issue to be affected. To the WEST INDIES Panama,So.America and Windward Islands THE CANADIAN PACIFIC Offers two remarkable Cruises de Luxe by The splendid “EMPRESS OF BRITAIN” 22,200 tons displacement THE LARGEST STEAMER TO THE SUPREME SILKS /or MENS SHIRTS TROPICS Oil-burning—no coal dust—cinders—soot Sailing from New York alesmen know the value of the shirt of Jan. 21st and Feb. 21st : e . 27 Days—Fares $300 up silh, adding to comfort the touch of dis Hi Cube Kis yma ice - se A (Panama). "Ea quayra{Venctucte) Pom ot tinction that makes a business asset out Spain pod ia ren pirmieas) Bridgetown . nd St. (Martinique), Charlotte Amalia (St. of an everyday necessity~ fap eee eee Reis Nassau (Bahamas), = 5 - Dut its silk must be one of the Appointments Equal Finest Hotel Tararions suites, fabine with bath, abina with Cr Loo S ollet, electric fans in every room. Spacious . y decks’ f id immini lps Dosh verandah ates’ ‘Orehlta ot "cncens mpire Loomeraft Sill and’ daneing. No Passports Required famous for beauty and Sars For rates and full information apply to local gents or CANADIAN: E CIFIC RAILWAY forth fe Agents Ist Atay Te pris of ‘distinction in dress ts the Cm ynpire Lomerafé Silk label IRE SILK COMPANY OURTH AVENUE NEW YORK comicbooks.com