Life, 1923-05-24 · page 34 of 42
Life — May 24, 1923 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several brief humorous anecdotes typical of early 20th-century satirical humor, plus period advertisements. **The jokes** are gentle social commentary: "Catastrophic" mocks nervous airplane passengers; "The Birthday Party" jokes about an elderly man buying toys for himself; "Her Cares" presents ironic role-reversal where a child worries about her mother. "King Takes Queen" plays on reincarnation romanticism, while "Wormwood" satirizes pretentious diners' complaints about wine service. **The imagery** shows a woman reclining by a window in the main cartoon—illustrating romantic daydreaming or leisure. **The advertisements** for Faultless Nightwear and a subscription pitch for *Life* itself represent typical magazine monetization. The humor is gentle, domestic, and relies on wordplay rather than political satire—reflecting *Life's* role as a family-oriented humor magazine rather than hard-hitting political commentary. The jokes target universal human foibles: nervousness, vanity, pretension, and romantic fancy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Her Cares The five-year-old daughter came from school, and the child’s mother, noticing how tired she looked, asked her if there was anything wrong. The Catastrophic It was in the midst of a nose dive, and Reginald, who was making his first flight, tugged frantically at the pilot's sleeve. . “We better get away from here,” he shrieked; “the earth’s swelling up like a balloon and it’s liable to bust any minute.” —Washington Sun Dodger. The Birthday Party Granppa (buying himself a birth- day present): 1 want a really good mechanical toy. SHopman: Yes sir. About how old is the child? Granppa: Seventy-four to-morrow. —Windsor Magazine (London). Motor Car DEAter (to prospect) : Man, I'll sell this car so cheap you'll feel like an auto thief. —Atchison Globe. “Wuat is a moral victory?” “Twin to an artistic success.” —New York Herald. —Le “I give you fair warning—if hit me below the belt you disqualified.” little one replied: “Oh, nothjng, Mother, only I was worrying about you.” “Why, dear, were you worry- ing about me?” asked the mother. “Well, because I was afraid you would be worrying about me.” —New York Sun. King Takes Queen “T think I must have been King Tut's first wife in the long past ages,” she murmured rapturously as she gazed at the stars. “No, you weren't,” he replied. “What proof have you?” she icily inquired. “I was King Tut himself.” —NMichigan Gargoyle. Wormwood “Can't we have this Chianti served in glasses instead of in cups?” was the query. “No,” said the waiter. “I think that’s against the law.” —New York World. you have Rire (Paris). mn A coop loser is all well enough, but it isn’t as much fun to beat him. —American Golfer. Lire. is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, Great Pritain, Canada and British Possessions. Title registered in. U. S. Patent Office. $5.00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents, Back numbers cannot be supplied. The test and. illustrations in Lars are copyrighted. |For Reprint Rights in Great Britain apply to Lire, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, London, E. C., England. The foreign trade supplied, from Ltre’s London, Offce,, Roll House, Breams Buildings, London, E. C. Canadian distributor, ‘The American News Company, Ltd., 386-388 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada. No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Lire does not hold itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions. Notice of change of address should reach this office two weeks prior to the date of issue to be affected. A Faultless Pal In the Wee, Wee Hours Wee hour pals are often frivolous, they sparkle when the evening's young, but lose their lustre when the evening wanes. That is why discern- ing men go home to the luxurious comfort, the ample roomi: and the perfect pal-ship of Faultless Pajamas. Men who care for sound, luzurious sleep, have slept in Faultless Paja- mas, Night Shirts and Sleep Coats since 1881. Faultless Nightwear, since 1881, has been cut to conform to the lines of the body from shoulders to ankles. There is ample room at the shoul- ders, elbows and knees. No binding, chafing, or pinching anywhere. The buttons stay put. Faultless Nightwear is made of ex- quisite fabrics to fit any stature, any pocketbook. Ask for Faultless Nightwear and sleep in comfort ever after. FAULTLESS NIGHTWEAR CORPORATION aultless) ‘SINCE 188! “The NIGHTwear of a Nation!" Pajamas Sleepcoats Nightshirts “Cheerfulness: Something We really Need To Satisfy a Real Want.” Do your part, therefore, Subscribe to and satisfy your natural craving for the amusing idea, the cheerful thought, that will lighten care and depression. As the streets of Jerusalem were kept clean by each man sweeping before his own door, so let your smile make your own world brighter and happier! Read LIFE with its Laugh on Every Page for half a year, and note your gain in cheerfulness, or try our . Special Offer Enclosed find One Dollar (Canadian $1.20, Foreign $1.40.) Send Lire for the next ten weeks to LIFE, 598 Madison Avenue, New York One Year $5 Canadian $5.80 Foreign, goo comicbooks.com