Life, 1923-09-27 · page 7 of 36
Life — September 27, 1923 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The illustration shows a humorous domestic scene: a woman in a bathtub singing loudly while two figures (appearing to be other boarding house residents) stand at the doorway looking exasperated. The caption reads: "Braspole, why do you sing in the bath?" with the response "The door won't lock." This is a simple comedic sketch about boarding house life—a common living arrangement in early 20th-century America where multiple unrelated people shared accommodations. The joke centers on the woman's lack of privacy and the resulting annoyance to neighbors, suggesting both the cramped, inconvenient conditions of such housing and the obliviousness (or indifference) of residents to their communal impact. It's gentle domestic humor rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Broadening Mt. Pleasant THE broadening influence of travel is an axiom. Even here in Mt. Pleasant that is recognized. For a little town in eastern Oregon its citi- zens manage to get about quite a bit. And when they return it is to share their experiences with Mt. Pleasant. The Mt. Pleasant Clarion of Au- cust fifteenth, and later dates, is wit- ness of that. Here is a society note om that issue: “Edward Berry has jest returned from a three-day visit i Denver, Col. The Western Mer- ints’ Convention was the primary jject of his trip, but Ed. also in- rmed a irion that he had picked up many pointers on golf as it is played in » East. ‘And,’ added Mr. Berry, Jenver may be all right for some, Mt. Pleasant is good enough for representative of the Farther along: “Mrs. Theodore iddle is home from New Y., where, for six we en studying voice culture with all e best masters. She has increased r extensive repertoire by ‘Je Suis itania’ from ‘Mignon,’ and ‘I Hear ou Calling Me.’ ‘New York shops e wonderful,’ she admitted, ‘but it's ird to beat the Mt. Pleasant Em- rium for good values.’” At the bottom of the column a note xplained that Mrs. Amanda Jones as back from Washington, where 1e had been a delegate to the con- ntion of the L. F. S. of A. D. M,, id where she had seen the Presi- ent of the United States and had haken his hand. For the broadening influence it is ry only to dip into subsequent sues of the Clarion, and note how e ripples spread until they com- etely filled the quiet pool of Mt. ‘leasant’s civic existence. On August twentieth the Clarion ported that Mrs. Amanda Jones ad told the Green Grove Parent- cachers’ Association how it felt to eet the President, and shake his and. The same evening, it was noted hat at the Elks Lodge Edward Berry, itely back from Denver, had ex- lained some trick golf shots he had icked up in the East. “But Mt. Mleasant’s good enough for me,” Mr. Berry had added. Two nights later, at the Ladies \id, Mrs. Theodore Riddle sang “Je AAAS SSSA SSE EEN SS SSS Qn SSSA 4 i i yy "Y y j / >> NOCTURNE IN A BOARDING HOUSE EANPOLE, WHY DO YOU SING IN THE BATH?” “THE DOOR WON’T LOCK.” Suis. Titania,” with “I Hear You Calling Me” as an encore; and the ladies heard with pride that New York shops were not a bit better than the Mt. Pleasant Emporium for good, sound values. The Neighborhood Club, on August twenty-second, thrilled to hear Mrs. Amanda Jones tell how it felt to shake the hand of a President of the United States. August 25—“The Rotary Club was told by Edward Berry, the local mer- chant: ‘Denver may be all right for some, but Mt. Pleasant is good enough for me.’” August 30—“The program for the social session of the Eastern Oregon Sunday School Convention will in- clude, ‘How It Feels to Meet the President,’ by Mrs. Amanda Jones; ‘Golf Stunts in the East,’ Berry; and the Polonaise from ‘Mi- gnon,’ ‘Je Suis Titania,” sung by Mrs. Theodore Riddle.” Alfred Harding The Uplifter ALLID and thin, *Midst clatter and din, He dwells on the wages of Thetic gin. »” by Edward syn- comicbooks.com