Life, 1923-12-06 · page 81 of 84
Life — December 6, 1923 — page 81: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains two distinct elements: **Left side:** A satirical poem titled "A Perverted Proverb" that darkly jokes about teaching children to steal. It humorously inverts moral instruction, suggesting that if one *must* steal, at least do it carefully—don't get caught, have stolen goods reset by jewelers to avoid detection, etc. The satire mocks both petty theft and parental hypocrisy. **Right side:** A bank advertisement for Continental and Commercial Banks (Chicago) illustrating "The Spirit behind the Custom"—referencing nostalgic country-store practices where shopkeepers gave children candy as goodwill gestures. The bank claims to replicate this "extra measure of service" in financial transactions. The illustration shows an older man (presumably a banker or shopkeeper) distributing gifts to children, evoking small-town Americana and personal service. The page juxtaposes cynical humor about theft with earnest banking nostalgia—a typical Life magazine blend of satire and advertising from the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
comin num mer walk old as stri eve eve ble nig me of the less desirable locali- zhost became a mere shadow of ner self. It sensed what was of one-room-and-bath apart- vith haunting alcoves. They are apartments, naturally, rather : you won’t object to that—and as you are concerned, on a month-to-month basis. If, how- here should be any complaints, , any unnecessary groaning or idling stuff after ten o'clock at nfinished sentence was ominous able. ~ a wan and depressed Christmas hich fled through the keyhole a ‘onds later. A. HF. A Perverted Proverb o take things easily—especially other people’s things.” —Up-to-date Maxim. ldren, never, never steal! now his offspring is a thief ten make a father feel ryed, and cause a mother grief; er steal. But, when you do, that no one’s watching you! irse, suppose you want a thing owner's absent), and you rrow lled ring, you mean to bring friend his trinket back to- TrOw vhile you have the stones reset, c forget, lest he forget! some rude detective’s hand uld find beneath your coat a roll in, or a cruet-stand elled, “Hotel Metropole,” smile you give it back, mless kleptomaniac! La T. H. have set aside a strictly limited ‘THERE is no need of it. In- gram’s Therapeutic Shaving Cream takes the sting and bum out of shaving. It has an exclusive medicinal property ot soothes the most sensitive skin—heals « little cuts—leaves your face smooth and » need to use a lotion. from your druggist today—S0c. If heis ied, send us 50c with his name and ad- fr which we will mail you a jar of Ingram’s itic Shaving Cream, and without charge d tube of Ingram’s Zodenta for the teeth. 2c stamp for sample. The Spirit behind the Custom In the country store of days gone by, upon the occasion of the seasonal purchase of the family clothing, the store-keeper, as an expression of ap- pteciation of the business just transacted, surprised each child in the family by presenting him with a bulging sack of candy. The spirit of giving unexpected personal atten- tion survives at The Continental and Commercial Banks. As evidence of our appreciation of the business of our customers, we endeavor to surround each transaction, whether large or small, with unusual promptness, a little more care than is absolutely necessary,—in short, we attempt always to render— “An Extra Measure of Service” The CONTINENTAL and COMMERCIAL BANKS CHICAGO Resources More than $500,000,000 A In very Jar comicbooks.com