Life, 1923-02-22 · page 30 of 36
Life — February 22, 1923 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several satirical jokes and advertisements typical of early 20th-century American humor: **Main Cartoons/Humor:** 1. **"Too Oppressive!"** — A story attributed to Ambassador Walter Page about an African American man unable to provoke a silent rival. The humor relies on racist dialect and stereotypes common to the era. 2. **"Our Foolish Contemporaries"** section includes various brief jokes: an insurance agent asking about alcohol consumption (likely referencing Prohibition-era anxieties), office humor about social climbing, and observations about italics in printing. 3. **The cartoons** feature simple line drawings accompanying jokes about domestic life, office dynamics, and social pretension. **Advertisements** dominate the lower half, promoting Bellans indigestion relief, Fisk tires, and banking services emphasizing "extra measure of service." The page reflects period attitudes toward class, ethnicity, and gender while showcasing the magazine's satirical approach to contemporary American life and consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Te grocery supplies on a big pair of counter scales. When the pans had balanced, he would throw in “a little extra,” making one end of the scales touch bottom. The Continental and Commercial Banks live up to this tradition in all their banking transactions. We are not satisfied to give merely an even measure of service. We believe in giving an extra measure of service. The CONTINENTAL and COMMERCIAL BANKS Resources More Than $500,000,000 CHICAGO “T beg jour pardon for disturbing you at this hour, sir, but I saw that, you wished to sell your auto- mobile and I wish to warn you not to count on me to buy it because I have no need of one at all.” ‘ans Géne (Paris). Sure Relief FOR INDIGESTION oye ee ACES: 6 BELL-ANS i Vag = | Hot water Z = Sure Relief DELL-:ANS 25¢ ano 75¢ PACKAGES EVERYWHERE Suspicions Confirmed The glib insurance agent had per- suaded Rastus to undergo a physical examination, All went well until the doctor started to fill out the personal question blank. “Do you use wine, spirits or malt liquors?” he asked. “Ah knowed it! Ah knowed it!” ex- claimed Rastus, jumping for the door, clutching his collar and tie. “Ah ‘spected all de time you wuz prohibition agents !"—California Pelican. Known by His Company Tue Manacer: So you want to leave the firm, do you? And do you think you are going to better yourself? Tue Aspirinc Orrice Boy: Not fi- nancially, perhaps, but socially. —Ideas (London). For Emphasis “Where were italics first used?” asks a subscriber. The first time we re- member seeing them was on a printed slip which read: “This is past duc. Please give it your prompt attention.” —Arkansas Gazette. The New Home Ryce: Have the Neweds completed their house plan yet? Nyce: Practically; they’ve decided on a sleeping porch and a shower bath, —Washington Star, Too Oppressive! During the war, Mr. Walt Page, the American Ambass: England, had occasion to complain of lack of news from his own « untry, Apropos he told the following story: An old nigger wished to pick a quar- rel with another nigger. Nigger No, | swore and stormed at Nigger No, 2, and kept on swearing and sto ming, hoping to provoke him. Nigger No, 2 said not_a word, but kept at his k Nigger No. 1 swore and stormed Nigger No. 2 said not a word. ) 1 frothed still more. Nigge still silent. Nigger No. 1 got des and said, “Look here, you kin! ed, flat-nosed, slab-footed n warns yo’, ‘fore God, don’t y givin’ me none o’ your damned sil, —Humorist (Lond In the Hold Op Sea Captain (in his parlor : It's getting pretty late; I think I'll g. be- low. Frienp (in a whisper to sea-cap'ain's wife): He forgets and thinks hv’s at sea? Sea-Caprarn’s Wire: Oh no, it. the cellar he refers to. —Treat ’Em Square, Delightful Job A lady bank clerk had completed her first week and a friend asked her how she liked the work. “Oh, it’s glorious!” she replied. “I'm at a branch where nearly all the people we know hay. ac- counts, and it’s so nice to see how little money some of your friends have in the bank.”—Boston Transcript. First Night Dramatic Critic (to confré: We won't begin applauding until after the second act; in the intermission I'll find out in the lobby how we like the play. —Meggendorfer Blatter (Munici:). A PaRVENU is a man who has risen suddenly from nothing and become nothing suddenly—Glasgow Bulletin. U seat oFr Time to Re-tire? Buy FISK comicbooks.com he th C