Life, 1923-10-25 · page 28 of 34
Life — October 25, 1923 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains brief humor pieces and advertisements typical of early 20th-century Life magazine's satirical format. **The Cartoons/Jokes:** The page features short, punchy joke items mocking social types and contemporary concerns. "Simple Enough" shows two landlords discussing a janitor's cost-cutting: he economizes on coal by simply not burning any—satirizing penny-pinching property owners. The "Voice Heard at the Top of Swing" references income tax burden, likely reflecting post-WWI tax increases affecting even the middle class. **Social Commentary:** "Salute to Manhattan" ironically praises New York despite claiming to despise its wealth, suggesting ambivalence about American capitalism. "She Did Eat" mocks a woman who complains about feminist literature while obsessively reading it—poking fun at both feminism and female hypocrisy. **Content:** Most pieces are brief, syndicated jokes from various newspapers. The page is largely advertising for Dean's Wedding Cake, indicating the magazine's commercial focus. The humor reflects pre-modern sensibilities: brief, pun-driven, and focused on class, gender, and economic anxieties of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
All Wool and a Yard Wide A Grand Rapids burglar is in the habit of going about with a fishpole and fishing clothes through windows while the owners sleep. The last time he got only a shirt, and he has been talking ever since about the trousers that got away.—Detroit New Cossack Dancing Little Tommy, describing some Rus- sian dancers he had seen, put it this way : “They sat on nothing and danced.” —Louisville Courier-Journal. The New Word “What do they call it now when you live decently?” “Inhibited, my dear.” —Boston Transcript, from a play. Salute to Manhattan Of course, as a true democrat, we hate New York with its vast wealth and swollen millionaires, and are loyal to poverty, the noble political virtues of insolvency, penury and belly-achery, and true to the sublime industry of whittling sticks all day at the crossroads grocery, but we must say that little old New York shines like a star in the night when a crushing blow falls upon the world. —George M. Bailey, in Houston Post, She Did Eat “That feministic stuff of D. H. Soandso in the yellow paper makes me sick,” said a San Francisco womar “Well, you don’t have to read it,” said her husband. “If it makes you sick, why do you pay any attention to it?” * “Because, you old goose, I want to see how sick it will make m —Argona Situation Wanted Sartor (with parrot): Can ’e talk! Lumme, lady, when ’e sings “The Wil- lage Blacksmith,” the sparks fly out of ‘is bloomin’ tail !—Bulletin (Sydney). Voice Heard at the Top of Swing: CAN YOU TELL ME THE TIME, PLEASE, “Looking for a job, Bill! Ithought you had enough to live on.” “So I have, old thing, but not enough sir? to pay my income tax with.” —Pearson’s Magazine (London). —London Mail. Lire is published every Thursday, s Great Bri a and British Po: : Patent, Offi Additional postage to foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents. Back numbers cannot be supplied. in the United States, tle registered in U. S. The text and illustrations in Lire are copyrighted. in Great Britain apply. to Lane, London, E. For Reprint Rights Lire, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter » England, The foreign trade supplied from Lire’s London Office, Rolls House, Breams, Buildings, London, E. C. Canadian distributor, “The American vs Company, Ltd., 386-388 St. Jam Montreal,’ Can No contributions will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Lire docs not hold itself responsible for th« loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions, Notice of change of address should reach this office two we to the date of issue to be affected DEAN’S WEDDING CAKE ‘OR more than three generations, Dean’s cake has lent distinction to many of the country’s most brilliant wedding receptions. Packed in boxes richly marked with the proper monogram. The Bride’s Cake beautifully ornamented and containing unique favours. Place Cards; Place Favours; Salted Nut Baskets; Bridal Candlesticks; many other novelties. Prices on Request Delivery Charges Prepaid, East of the Mississippi CORRECT CATERING FOR WEDDINGS WITHIN 50 MILES OF NEW YORK ESTIMATES SUBMITTED SIMPLE ENOUGH 628 New York Fifth Avenue City Exablished 1839 One Landlord (io another): MY JANITOR HAS FOUND A GOOD WAY TO ECONOMIZE ON COAL. “yes?” “YES, HE DOESN’T BURN ANY.” comicbooks.com