Life, 1922-11-30 · page 31 of 36
Life — November 30, 1922 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This humorous column mocks the chronic procrastinator who perpetually delays tasks by promising to accomplish multiple errands "tomorrow." Each day's entry reveals the same pattern: the narrator plans to handle dentist appointments, car insurance, shopping, and a wedding gift—but keeps deferring everything. The satire targets a recognizable human weakness: the false logic of bundling tasks ("three birds with one stone") as justification for endless postponement. By Friday, nothing has been done, yet the narrator still believes tomorrow will be the day. The joke's humor lies in its relatability and the protagonist's self-deception. Modern readers would recognize this as an early satirical take on procrastination—a timeless human tendency that remains relevant today, though now we might associate it with email inboxes and digital task lists rather than dentist visits and insurance paperwork. The rest of the page contains period advertisements (W.L. Douglas shoes) and other content, unremarkable for historical analysis.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Diary of a Procrastinator Sunday—I must go to the dentist morrow. to- «+ Monday—I shall have to see about renewing my insurance on my car. | will attend to that to-morrow, sure, and then I can go to the dentist at the same time. * * * Tuesday—Need some winter clothes. Yl drop in at Salter’s to-morrow and order a couple of suits. Then I can look after the insurance for my car and get through with the den- tist. Three birds with one stone won't be at all bad for me. * * * Wednesday—To-morrow I really must order Marie’s wedding present from Leway’s and so long as I am in that neighborhood I can easily run over to Salter’s to see about those suits I need. Then the den- tist will be handy. That filling is getting to be a nuisance. The in- surance simply must be looked after as well. To-morrow will be my busy day. * ok * Thursday—Tom phoned me to-day and asked me to drop down to his office soon to discuss that oil deal. No use letting it go too long. I'll see him to-morrow. On the way up- town I can get Marie’s present. And while I’m about it, I might just as well clean up the other things: Special to You! 4) who would know the world and what the service men are The AMERICAN LEGION Weekly which chronicles the activities of the leaders of tomorrow who made today possible,—the veterans of the great war—regular price $2.00peryear. OUR WORLD which gives you each month a vivid illustrated picture of what is going forward in the world—reg- ular price $3.00 per year. You can have these two great National magazines and the services of the Institute of International Information which an- ated question on world affairs on The AMERICAN LEGION Weekly—$2.00 and the services of Our World f° qustitate of Tatere national Information $2.00 i ioe to Life readers. + $4.00 Special Price; feck for ait tres,” *Mau your check with full name and address to The American Legion Weekly, 627 West (3rd Street. New York City. Buy Single Copies at the News Stands | BECAUSE for style :‘ LIFE W. L.DOUG $5 $6 87 &§8 SHOES cron LAS wee Doegias shossiare actually demanded ‘ear year by more peo; than any other shoe in the world material, workmanship and le prices they are unequaled. FORTY YEARS of satisfactory service havegiventhe people confidence in the shoes and in the rotection afforded by the W. L. Douglas Trade Mar! PROTECTION against unreasonable profits is guaran- the sole of every pair. by the name and pricestamped on W.L. DOUGLAS £h°¢s are exceptionally good values. Only by examining em can you appreciate their superior qualities. You can always save money by wearing + L. Douglas shoes. shoes are sold in 110 of our own W.L. DOUGLAS stores in the large cities and by dealers everywhere. When you need shoes, TPnot convenient to call at one of our stores, ask your shoe dealer to show youW.L.Douglas shoes. The nameand on the sole. Refuse same everyw! price is alway lainly stam) substitutes. Ths prices are Hfnotfor sale in your vicinity, write for catalog. Wi, TO MERCHANTS: If no dealer In your town handles W. L. Douglas shoes, write todai for exclusive rights to handle this quici selling, quick turn-over line. my winter clothes, the insurance and the dentist. It is just as well to let matters pile up and then do everything at once. * oe * Friday—Have to rustle out of bed early to-morrow and get all the odds and ends of the week cleaned up. I can see Tom and get my statement from the bank before lunch. Le- way’s will be open all day, so there will be plenty of time to look after Marie’s present in the afternoon. I simply must do that. She’s to be married next week. Then the in- surance people, they’re always open— and my clothes, and the dentist. Pretty full schedule for one day, but I suppose I can manage it. xe * Saturday—Have altogether too much to do. I need a rest. Going away this afternoon for a vacation in the woods. J. K. M. Australian Pests News comes from Australia of another triumph of science over nature. Besides Premier Hughes, Australia has two other pests—the prickly pear and the rab- bit. The first has had to battle both the others. His time has been divided between trying to let go the prickly pear and trying to catch the rabbit. Hitherto he has failed dismally either way. But now a scientist has come along and the great problem is likely to be solved. This scientist is train- ing the rabbit to eat the prickly pear. The rabbit in turn dies of stomach trouble. An American has gone over to inaugurate among the Australian rabbits an “Eat a Prickly Pear a Day” Week. D. B. MacR. Boys Shoes $4.00 & $4.50 W.L. Douglas name and portrait is the best known shoe Trade Mark fn the world, if iindeler the kk, est standard of quality at the lowest fossible cout. “The mane and price ts President s sage DeaElas Shoe Go, | Alainly stamped on the sole. We who met last as lovers meet as friends. We may salute with formal clasp of hand And formal word. Our spirits un- derstand No less the invocation that ascends From hearts which taunting memory still rends Despite the efforts of our self-com- mand, When two have loved, only to find love banned, Pain’s not the only thing that never ends, How long shall we be able to deny With mere platonic niceties of phrase The unrelenting voices of the past? How long before there rings aloud the cry That even now resounds within and flays The farce of friendship never meant to last? Pal Shepherds : (Trade Mark) Police dogs of the highest type. 9 ; Farm reared. Positive protection. Perfect pup- pies for Christmas, correspondence in- vited. Visitors_ welcome. Naomi ngdon, Victory Doylestown, Pa. Farms, comicbooks.com