Life, 1923-02-22 · page 31 of 36
Life — February 22, 1923 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate pieces of satirical content: **"Jonesville's Noontime Perils"** is a humorous complaint about how American business culture has changed. The narrator laments that prosperous businessmen now spend entire afternoons (11:30 AM to 3 PM) at leisurely lunches with expensive foods like French pastry and crabmeat, rather than quick midday breaks. He criticizes the younger generation taking over businesses for prioritizing fancy restaurant meals as a status symbol of executive success. The satire targets 1920s corporate vanity and excessive leisure time. **"Preferences (A Problem Play)"** is a comedic sketch mocking a husband who complains bitterly about eating tapioca pudding at home five times weekly—then enthusiastically orders the same dish at a fancy restaurant, praising his employer's "superior" preparation. The joke: identical food tastes better in a restaurant setting, reflecting superficial attitudes about status and dining. **The advertisement** (not satirical) promotes U.S. Government steamship travel to Europe, emphasizing American ships' luxury and affordability—a straightforward promotional piece unrelated to the humorous content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
=> ee Jonesville’s Noontime Perils USED to look forward to mating Jonesville because two or three of my customers often took me to they homes for dinner. Now I time my calls so they cannot invite me to !inch. One fine old fellow used to have me drop him a card in ad- vance - his wife could make a deep- dish apple pie. To-day I saw him sit- ting i the Olympian Room of the Hotel New Trianon while a waiter gave |'m a close-up of a tray of Frenc! pastry. “Thocty years ago the noon hour was fom twelve until one. Now it’s from eleven-thirty until three, or until ‘ur with billiards. “We cing home and back used to keep ‘ese prosperous leading citi- zens ii) condition. Now they ride two blocks ‘0 give the rubber in a Turk- ish bai: a treat. “Mo t of them have sons who are prepar ig to take over the business. They have taken over everything else. ‘he sons have the luncheon techni:ie perfectly. They proceed on the tcory that an executive is known by the crabmeat he orders. The boys are learning the business from ie ground up, starting in as purch sing agents. If you can clear away : place among the dishes and ash trys they are always willing to talk |siness.” McC. H. Preferences (A Problem Play) Act 1 Secve: Dining room of the Moans’ hom : Monday evening. acters: Mr. and Mrs. George Moans: What have we for desse't to-night ? Mes. Moans: Tapioca pudding, Georve, dear. I thought you'd like it. Mr. Moans: Hang it! Can't you think of anything but tapioca pud- ding Five times in a week we've had: vat stuff. I never want to look anot-r tapioca in the face in all my Re Act 11 Sc ne: Grill room of the Bullhead Caf: Ti ie: Tuesday noon. Cicracters: Mr. George Moans; Mr. 2aymond Entrot, his employer. Mv. Entrot: And how about some tapioca pudding for dessert? I pride myse'f on having discovered the su- Perioy way in which they cook it here. 5 M:. Moans: Tapioca pudding? Just the thing. How did you ever know that that was my favorite des- sert? (Curtain) J. K. M. are you going _to EUROPE? ARE you going to Europe this year? Nowisthe time to make your plans. Naturally you will prefer to sail under the American flag and before making a decision you will investigate American ships. When you have investigated you will be proud of your Merchant Marine. You will be happy to join the thousands of enthusiastic boosters of American ship and American service at sea. Investigate Today Your Government invites you to do so now. Simply fill in the information blank below and mail it to the United States Shipping Board. Americans who have traveled on U. S. Government ships are unanimous in their praise of the superior service, wonderful meals, smooth sailing, and luxurious accommodations. Rates have recently been reduced but not one jot of luxury or service has been sacrificed. What you will receive— A handsomely bound booklet showing actual photographs of the luxurious interiors of your ships: A full description of the Government Ships operated to Europe by the United States Lines: Information about the chief events of interest in Europe in Spring and the low prices that now prevail. Send the blank today—now. You will be under no obligation whatever. INFORMATION BLANK To U. S. hi ping Board Information Section 2402 Washington, D.C, Please send without obligation the = "S, Government Booklet giving travel facts and also information regarding U. $. Government ships. I am con- sidering a trip to Europe 0), The Orient 1), South America O. IFT go date will be about My Name. My Street Ne. or R. F. D. Tron____ . e United States Lines Moore and McCormack, Inc. Roosevelt Steamship Co., Inc. 45 Broadway New York City 110 So. Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. 92 State St., Boston, Mass, 155 Congress Street West, Detroit, Michigan Managing Operators for U. S. SHIPPING BOARD comicbooks.com