Life, 1922-03-23 · page 22 of 34
Life — March 23, 1922 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is satirical humor mocking a tediously predictable man who tells stale jokes repeatedly throughout his day. The "bore" makes groan-worthy puns ("While there's life there's soap!"), tired wordplay about his thermometer being "very low," and recycled chestnuts about women chasing men. He's oblivious to how annoying he is. The accompanying cartoon shows two fishermen discussing a leaky boat—a visual gag where the boatman notes the leak is "handy" because you don't need to bail water out when beaching it. This illustrates the magazine's broader humor: finding absurd logic in everyday situations. The page satirizes the archetypal "bore"—someone so immersed in his own jokes that he doesn't recognize their lameness, while simultaneously depicting everyday working-class characters (fishermen, office workers) with deadpan acceptance of life's minor annoyances. The satire targets predictable male humor and social obliviousness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WOKE this morning at 7:30. “It will be a good day to-day if it doesn’t rain,” I shouted to Anna, who was still asleep. The cold weather gave me a really good idea. I went to the phone and called up old Doctor Stevens. “Arthur is very low,” I said when he answered. “Arthur who?” he asked crossly. “Our thermometer,” I chuckled and hung up the receiver. Went into the bathroom and found Chester preparing to shave. “Cheer up, Chester,” said I, “While there's life there’s soap!” Breakfast at eight. As we sat down little William said he would be glad when he was grown up so he wouldn't have to go to school. “Don’t you worry, Bill,” I told him. “You'll be a man long before your mother will.” On my way to the office I met Bill Simpson, “I ‘ate to confess it, but I LIFE The Real Diary of a Real Bore ate breakfast at eight this morning,” I said to him. Had lunch with Charlie Jones. He told me he had just become engaged. “Condolations,” said I, pretending to look sorrowful. As we were leaving the restaurant I said to him: “Remem- ber, Charlie, woman came after man— and she’s been after him ever since!” Ran across Dick Anderson as I was leaving the office. “A fine night for a murder,” I remarked. I told him we had recently moved to our present apartment, Columbia Heights, Brook- lyn. “We can look out of our window at night and see the Statue of Liberty fright’ning the world,” said I. Anna had that prim Miss Johnston to supper to-night. Sure enough, I let go with a “My God!” at one time during the meal. But I covered it up by re- marking, “Please excuse my French!” Played bridge during the evening. I played with Miss Johnston. trump my ace!” I warned her sat down. careful!” “Don't we “If you can’t be good, be It is eleven o'clock as I am finishing this. Just looked out of the window Looks as if it might be a good day to- morrow if it doesn’t rain. R. P., Ir. Perpetual Emotion (With apologies to M. Goose) HERE was a man in ou Who liked his shows risiic He saw a farce in which a girl Undressed and hit the hay. And when he saw how dull it w He rushed, with might and m. To one in which a girl got out Of bed and dressed again. Jl The Fisherman: Leaks pretty bad—doesn’t she? Boatman: Yeh, but it’s kinda handy—that. When ye haul her up on th’ beach ye don’t need v bale her out. comicbooks.com