Life, 1923-03-22 · page 13 of 36
Life — March 22, 1923 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip (not political satire) featuring a mischievous boy named Skippy. The narrative shows Skippy attempting to buy chocolate bars from a grocer, then pivoting to purchase birdseed instead when that plan fails. The humor derives from Skippy's escalating scheme: he tries to send a younger boy ("Sockey") into the store, then attempts to steal birdseed from Mr. Blatz's counter. When discovered, Skippy climbs a ladder to hide the contraband, creating chaos. The strip concludes with Skippy's mother sending him back to the grocer—ironically to buy birdseed legitimately for a pet canary. The strip plays on typical childhood mischief and parental authority, with no political references visible.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Lissen, Sockey! The grocer’s just Mr. Blatz: Bird-seed? Bird-seed? put some ckoc'late bars on the Mr. Blat: Wait, I'll look in the back. counter, go in and ask for some- Mr. Blatz: Bird-seed? You were thing he don’t keep an’ Pll wait in for that a couple of times, I for ya. Ain’t that a good idea?” think. “I got a better idea—You go in!” Skippy: Yes, sir! “Papa! Skippy’s swipin’ our chawklet, swipin’ our chawklet!” trit-t Mother’s Voice: 1s that you, Mother’s Voice: Well, I want you Skippy? to go to the grocer’s and get me Skippy: Y—yes, M—mama! a package of birdseed. Papa just brought home a canary. Skippy — No. 1 comicbooks.com