Life, 1923-11-15 · page 28 of 40
Life — November 15, 1923 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three humorous pieces from *Life* magazine (a satirical publication): **"Wrong Numbers"** satirizes domestic decision-making. A couple obsesses over precise telephone placement during house construction, ultimately choosing an impractical third-story stairway location because the husband fears guests will doodle on the yellow hallway walls. The satire mocks both overwrought planning and spousal compromise in home design. **"Over the Teacups"** is light verse lamenting social changes in tea service customs. It humorously notes that modern hosts now pour tea (rather than hostesses), small cups replace traditional larger ones, and hosts shake teapots erratically—suggesting tea service has become less graceful and refined than grandmother's era. **"Football Made Clear"** is a humorous sports diagram attempting to explain a nonsensical football play called "Tackle over Teakettle." The numbered players engage in absurd actions (conversation, face-making, lying down), and the caption ironically notes the defense "gained eight yards"—inverting expected outcomes. The satire mocks confusing sports journalism and vague newspaper football photography.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
% LIFE - Wrong Numbers WHEN we built our house, Mildred and I gave our personal attention to the most minute details. Fea- tures that are an afterthought with most people, we con- sidered and planned well in advance. The location of the telephone, for instance. The position of the telephone, we believe, is too strategic to be left to mere chance and the whim of the telephone company. That instrument must not be too far from the kitchen to be inconvenient for the cook nor too near the floor to permit the children to ring up Santa Claus at will. Neither did it scem to us the part of wisdom to place the telephone, as so often is customary, in the darkest corner available, thus necessitating a trip to light, burdened with a huge telephone tome, when a new number is in demand. So I suggested placing the telephone in the hall. That would never do, Mildred objected. Wasn't the wall in the hall to be light yellow? It was, I admitted, but what had that to do with it? “Well, you know how people waiting for a number or talking like to pick up a pencil and do figures on the wall,” Mildred reminded. “Can't you imagine the effect on my yellow wall?” I could, but I insisted that was only misdirected energy. And how could I direct it, pray? I was asked scornfully. “We could,” I suggested, “hang up your check-book stubs behind the telephone and maybe those people who scribble while they are phoning would figure out the mistakes,” So that’s how we came to decide to put the telephone on the third-story stairway. And whenever it rings, I am to answer it, Fairfax Downey. Over the Teacups OVER the teacups is not, I would say, Just what it was in our grandmother's day. A teacup is useful, as all must admit, E’en though one must guess at the contents of it— And ‘tis said, even so, that the small demi-tasse Has risen to prominence out of its class, China is rising and porcelain soars. In place of the hostess, the master now pours. (Clapping the lid on the teapot, he takes it, And would you believe that the crazy man shakes it?) Tall glasses are absent and small ones passé— One tips to the lips just a teacup to-day! Mabel Haughton Collyer. FOOTBALL MADE CLEAR THE DOPE AS WE GET IT FROM THOSE HAZY NEV In the above picture Capt. McN weil b offens person in the derby hat (B). scen by ER PHOTOGRAPHS t's men are shown snatching victory from. defeat in the final period through the agency of their famous “Tackle over Teakettle, or Broken Clavicle” play In this play, as y examining the picture, the defensive tackle (1) is being drawn into conversation with the guard (2) while the defensive left wing half-back (3) is seen making faces at the offensi The runner (9) has just decided to call it a day and is lying down where he thinks nobody will see him, On this play, the defense gained eight yards. comicbooks.com